A new book about an extraordinary word-maker, There Was a Party for Langston: King o’ Letters by Jason Reynolds, brings history to life with poetic language and colorful stamped illustrations. Inspired by a photo of poets Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka dancing (boogying!) at a party in honor of Langston Hughes, this book captures the creativity of Hughes and his impact on other artists and writers. This legendary party was “A fancy-foot, get-down, all-out bash” and SO GLORIOUS! Because everyone felt the power of Langston’s words. How he could turn letters “into laughter” and turn “birds into flying words all around.” All all-out, sing-out-loud, ode to one of the literary greats!
For other books by Jason Reynolds, check out: Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You, and Miles Morales: Spider Man.
There Was a Party for Langston is a 2024 Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book and a 2024 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book.
Read more about all the 2024 ALA Youth Media Award Winners here.