The Pasteboard Bandit

by Arna Bontemps, Cheryl A. Wall, Langston Hughes

In this delightful children's tale, an American boy, Kenny Strange, moves to the quiet Mexican town of Taxco with his parents and strikes up a friendship with young Juanito Pérez, a Taxco native. The two boys are brought together by an enchanting toy, the pasteboard bandit Tito. Chosen by
Juanito at a town fair from among the other pasteboard toys, Tito, with his colorful clothes and bright eyes, becomes Juanito's and Kenny's constant companion, and the threesome share many adventures in and around the town's rolling green hills. The boys' growing friendship, Kenny's introduction to
a culture unlike his own, and Tito's witty reflections on being a toy will be recognized instantly by anyone young or old who has ever made a friend or imagined that a toy might be real.
Originally written in 1935, but never before published, The Pasteboard Bandit grew out of several trips Langston Hughes made to Mexico during his lifetime. Hughes first went to the town of Toluca at age 5 to visit his father, and again when he was older. During these visits, Hughes met many writers
and artists, and it is their influence that informs the story of The Pasteboard Bandit --a story of two cultures meeting. When Hughes left Mexico for the last time, at age 32, he was carrying the first draft for The Pasteboard Bandit .

Genres: Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

First published November 20, 1997

About the author

Works of poetry, history, and fiction, such as God Sends Sunday (1931) and Black Thunder (1936), established American writer Arna Wendell Bontemps as a leading figure of the renaissance of Harlem.

People note Arnaud Wendell Bontemps, an African novelist and librarian, as a member.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arna_Bo...

Reviews

[Sara Ullery · Rating 5 out of 5]

7. The Pasteboard Bandit By Arna Bontemps & Langston Huges Age 6-9 Grades 2-4 CHAPTER BOOK
• This story is from the view of a toy bandit. He is bilingual and does not see differences the way people do. It is his story of finding a home, where a young boy Juanito brings him home to introduce him to his American friend, Kenny. Tito the bandit gives us a look into seeing people as they are, people. Cultural differences are acknowledged but with an open heart. This is a book with adventure, friendship, information about different cultures and languages.
• Ages 6-11 Grades 2-5
• Educators may use this book for Art, English, Geography, Social Studies and Creative writing.
• Individual students may use this book to practice advanced reading on their own. There are also many words in Spanish, which would benefit not only the ELL but the students who speak English.
• Small groups may assist each other with reading, especially the words in Spanish. This book would be helpful for writing; the students may create their own summaries from the story.
• The entire class may take several weeks reading the story together. The illustrations may be used as a prompt for their own take on the style of art from a different culture. They may also do a report on the “Nine Days Christmas”.
• This book is available at libraries and eBooks’.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it was originally turned down for publication, the rejection reason was that it wouldn't hold the interest of a child. I don't think that's true. It is ultimately an early chapter book, possibly better for being read aloud than read by the early reader, but it's not bad. Of historical interest.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story by Bontemps and Hughes. Beautiful illustrations. Maybe a little long for a child's book, but I liked the preface by one of Bontemps' children, Alex, and the afterword. Nice way to decenter whiteness as the norm by introducing the Mexican family first, then the Strange (get it?) family.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't find the story interesting and gave up after about 20 pages BUT the biography of Hughes that follows the story by Cheryl A. Wall is fantastic. i love Hughes poetry and didn't realize he'd done so much more.

[Amber Pangburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little boy who lives in Mexico. He met another boy through a cardboard man. This cardboard man became very important throughout their friendship. I would use this book to help with learning the Spanish culture. I would also use this to show how to take care of the things around you.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally written in 1935, this collaboration between close friends Bontemps and Hughes offers readers an engaging story about a Mexican boy and his white friend. Possibly inspired by Hughes' time in Mexico, the story tells little of African American life in the nineteen thirties. The illustrations by Turley and rich and beautiful.