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Drylongso
Lindy and her family are suffering through a long drought. Then the mystical Drylongso teaches them the secrets of finding water hidden in the earth. “Drylongso is a hypnotic, joyful story from a distinguished writer--one that, with the help of Jerry Pinkney’s beautiful watercolor and pastel pictures, depicts well the dry land, the swirling wind and earth, and an African-American family planting in hope with the help of a wondrous, dusty, divining stickfella.”--The New York Times Book Review
64 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1992
3 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Hamilton
137 books270 followersVirginia Esther Hamilton was the author of forty-one works of fiction and nonfiction. She was the first Black writer awarded the Newbery Medal and the first children's writer to be named a MacArthur Fellow (the "Genius" grant). She also received the National Book Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 16, 2011
Drylongso tells the story about Lindy and her family living during a drought in 1975. One day, a dust storm comes through Lindy's town. With the storm comes a boy named Drylongso, which stands for "dry so long". Drylongso's mother once told him that wherever he goes, life will grow better. Drylongso helps this family by using his talents to help them find a crucial resource during this time and by doing so helps their lives grow better.
I thought that this book was pretty good in that it told a great story and kept me wanting to finish the book. I am not one for history-based stories, so it was surprising that I even liked this at all. I learned some important information about how hard it was for families who have lived during these drastic droughts in America, and I also learned a little about how they actually made it through these times. I liked how Drylongso was sort of like the hero of the story. He came to Lindy's family with the dust storm and with him he brought the ability to conjure up water, which was much needed during these times.
The only thing I did not like about this book was that it was so long, and sometimes there were two full pages of just text. I feel like if you were reading this to students, they might become distracted or bored during these times because so much reading is being done. This would especially hold true for younger students.
As a future teacher, I would probably use this book in my classroom. I might use it during some sort of lesson on the droughts in America. I think that students would probably enjoy just reading this book on their own, because of the length of it. It would not be one that I would really read aloud to an entire class of students, but more one that would be available for students to read whenever they might feel like it.
I thought that this book was pretty good in that it told a great story and kept me wanting to finish the book. I am not one for history-based stories, so it was surprising that I even liked this at all. I learned some important information about how hard it was for families who have lived during these drastic droughts in America, and I also learned a little about how they actually made it through these times. I liked how Drylongso was sort of like the hero of the story. He came to Lindy's family with the dust storm and with him he brought the ability to conjure up water, which was much needed during these times.
The only thing I did not like about this book was that it was so long, and sometimes there were two full pages of just text. I feel like if you were reading this to students, they might become distracted or bored during these times because so much reading is being done. This would especially hold true for younger students.
As a future teacher, I would probably use this book in my classroom. I might use it during some sort of lesson on the droughts in America. I think that students would probably enjoy just reading this book on their own, because of the length of it. It would not be one that I would really read aloud to an entire class of students, but more one that would be available for students to read whenever they might feel like it.
July 11, 2013
I think this book has a tough time finding the right audience. The main character and the prose are too young for older readers, but the text is too wordy for younger readers. Shash out about 80% of the text and you'd have agood picture book.
May 19, 2011
The mian character is Drylongso and the other charcters are Mamalou,Lindy,and dad. here is what happened early in the story:Lindy and her Father were watering the garden and they started to relize that the water in the well was running out of water.hey saw a boy running and a big cloud of dust behind him. Here is what happen in the middle of the story:The boy,Drylongso,runs into the house and lindys family asks Dylongso were his family was. he responded with I lost them in the strom.lindys family begain tell Drylongso about the dust stroms in the past. Drlongso also mentions that his father told him that there is dustroms every 20 years. Here is what happened at the end of the story:Drylongso helps lindy,s family find water by using a dowsing rod. he holds the dowsing rod as he,s walking and the dowsing rod stars pulling to the right indicating that water underground.Drlongso and Lindy's dad used shovels to dig trenches to get an underwaterspring. They dug trenches to the garden. Lindy's family was so excited because of the water Drylongso found. lindy enjoyed using Drylongso's dowsing rod that he left for her to try and find water and rian also.
November 11, 2011
In reading the book Drylongso two story elements that I focused on were plot and characterization. The plot being the people against nature, specifically dust storms and droughts. The importance of natural resources and human resources are central to the plot. The conflict between all characters and nature is evident. One main character in the story is Drylongso, the protagonist, a transcendent character, who participates as a savior to a family who is experiencing hardship due to a period of drought. Drylongso appears during a dust storm and becomes part of a family. In the short period that he is there he is able to help the family start their farm and find water. However, even when his participation is brief he becomes a constant character who leaves the story mysteriously.
The book focuses on African American life and history. This book explains the origin of the word Drylongso that was handed down from previous generation of African American people. It was used during the Plantation Era and the author explains that in the Gullah language, "Drylongso" is a black colloquial expression that means something rare has become so common that it is very ordinary.
Jerry Pinkney, award winning illustrator, depicts a dry dusty farm land that belongs to an African American family. Repeatedly draws our attention to the mood and tone of the situation in his illustrations. The details in the illustration and the facial expressions are wonderful.
The book focuses on African American life and history. This book explains the origin of the word Drylongso that was handed down from previous generation of African American people. It was used during the Plantation Era and the author explains that in the Gullah language, "Drylongso" is a black colloquial expression that means something rare has become so common that it is very ordinary.
Jerry Pinkney, award winning illustrator, depicts a dry dusty farm land that belongs to an African American family. Repeatedly draws our attention to the mood and tone of the situation in his illustrations. The details in the illustration and the facial expressions are wonderful.
February 19, 2016
Drylongso
by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
Two award winner combine to tell and illustrate the tale of Drylongso. Virginia Hamilton was one of the most distinguished authors of twentieth century youth literature. Jerry Pinkney is winner of both the 2016 Laura Ingalls Wilder and Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Awards for his body of work. The collaboration shows Hamilton's retelling of the Drylongso story and Pinkney's illustrations that bring visual life to the story.
The book needs to be tied with student folklore introduction to set both the time and social contexts of the story. It is part of what would be a parallel American culture to many readers.
In her lifetime, Virginia wrote and published 41 books in multiple genres that spanned picture books and folktales, mysteries and science fiction, realistic novels and biography. Woven into her books is a deep concern with memory, tradition, and generational legacy, especially as they helped define the lives of African Americans. She won every major award in youth literature. (From biography at: http://www.virginiahamilton.com/ )
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Lexile Measure: 530L
Two award winner combine to tell and illustrate the tale of Drylongso. Virginia Hamilton was one of the most distinguished authors of twentieth century youth literature. Jerry Pinkney is winner of both the 2016 Laura Ingalls Wilder and Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Awards for his body of work. The collaboration shows Hamilton's retelling of the Drylongso story and Pinkney's illustrations that bring visual life to the story.
The book needs to be tied with student folklore introduction to set both the time and social contexts of the story. It is part of what would be a parallel American culture to many readers.
In her lifetime, Virginia wrote and published 41 books in multiple genres that spanned picture books and folktales, mysteries and science fiction, realistic novels and biography. Woven into her books is a deep concern with memory, tradition, and generational legacy, especially as they helped define the lives of African Americans. She won every major award in youth literature. (From biography at: http://www.virginiahamilton.com/ )
Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Lexile Measure: 530L
October 27, 2008
Drylongso is a folk hero, who represents not only drought but the longing for the end of drought, but to Lindy he is a friend and an adopted brother. She is saddened when he leaves, but before he goes he has helped Lindy and her family dig out from a devastating dust storm (in 1975), given them some seeds to plant, and found a spring with fresh water.
The illustrations by Jerry Pinkney (some of them full double spread) capture the dry dusty feeling of drought as well as the loving family.
The illustrations by Jerry Pinkney (some of them full double spread) capture the dry dusty feeling of drought as well as the loving family.
August 5, 2016
The watercolors were especially nice in this telling of a family who meet a young boy during a dust storm.
The word sophisticated keeps coming to mind and I am not sure this would appeal to early elementary readers. To me, this is more of a adult reads aloud type of book with discussion.
The word sophisticated keeps coming to mind and I am not sure this would appeal to early elementary readers. To me, this is more of a adult reads aloud type of book with discussion.
May 6, 2009
One thing this book was so confusing with all these events happening...like a run in with a tornado...BEWARE!-Danyel
February 11, 2015
i havent read the book it wont let me
September 4, 2025
I don't think this book took the best path to what it was trying to do.
There is indeed a pattern of drought of which the Dust Bowl was a part, but there hasn't been another Dust Bowl, but here you have something that is very much like the Dust Bowl, but is resolved far more easily than would be possible.
Noble intentions, but I think the execution is off.
There is indeed a pattern of drought of which the Dust Bowl was a part, but there hasn't been another Dust Bowl, but here you have something that is very much like the Dust Bowl, but is resolved far more easily than would be possible.
Noble intentions, but I think the execution is off.
March 25, 2019
A cool book about the dust bowl that happens every 20 years. This one takes place in 1975. It is how they deal with the drought and all the dust. It was written by Virginia Hamilton so you know it's good. And Jerry Pinkney is the illustrator. The illustrations are beautiful!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews