ALA Booklist (Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2002)

In Visiting Langston , Perdomo offers a poetic tribute that celebrates Hughes' legacy rather than the events of his life. Today I'm going to wear / My favorite pink blouse / I'm going with my daddy / to visit Langston's house, begins the rhymed text, written in an unnamed girl's voice. The child tells a bit about Hughes in a few oblique lines but mostly talks about herself--her likes and dislikes, her poetry, and the affinity she feels for Hughes. The brief lines sometimes scan awkwardly, interfering with the poem's momentum, but the girl's fierce pride, excitement, and curiosity will grab readers, as will Collier's exquisite collages, which mix rich textures, urban scenes, and contemporary people celebrating the impact of a legend's words. A page of facts and a listing of Hughes' works provide the only standard biographical information. The picture-book format may deter some older children, but many will be drawn to the book by its vibrant, sophisticated images, strong voice, and the speaker's powerful invitation to find oneself within the work and lives of legendary artists.

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

"Langston / Langston / Langston Hughes / Wrote poems / Like jazz / Sang like love / Cried like blues." A young "Harlem girl," a poet in her own right, reflects on Hughes's life as she and her father tour the poet's home. Chaotic collage and watercolor illustrations feature portraits of Hughes as well as of the narrator and her father. An author's note is included.

Kirkus Reviews

A little girl is going with her daddy to visit the home of Langston Hughes. She too is a poet who writes about the loves of her life—her mommy and daddy, hip-hop, hopscotch, and double-dutch, but decidedly not kissing games. Langston is her inspiration because his poems make her "dreams run wild." In simple, joyful verse Perdomo tells of this "Harlem girl" from "Harlem world" whose loving, supportive father tells her she is "Langston's genius child." The author's own admiration for Hughes's artistry and accomplishments is clearly felt in the voice of this glorious child. Langston's spirit is a gentle presence throughout the description of his East 127th Street home and his method of composing his poetry sitting by the window. The presentation is stunning. Each section of the poem is part of a two-page spread. Text, in yellow, white, or black, is placed either within the illustrations or in large blocks of color along side them. The last page of text is a compilation of titles of Hughes's poems printed in shades of gray in a myriad of fonts. Collier's ( Martin's Big Words , 2001, etc.) brilliantly complex watercolor-and-collage illustrations provide the perfect visual complement to the work. From the glowing vitality of the little girl, to the vivid scenes of jazz-age Harlem, to the compelling portrait of Langston at work, to the reverential peak into Langston's home, the viewer's eye is constantly drawn to intriguing bits and pieces while never losing the sense of the whole. In this year of Langston Hughes's centennial, this work does him great honor. (Poetry. 6-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Perdomo (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Where a Nickel Costs a Dime) captures the excitement of an African-American girl anticipating a visit to the Harlem brownstone of Langston Hughes. The narrator, an aspiring writer, expresses her enthusiasm from the opening lines: "Today I'm going to wear/ My favorite pink blouse/ I'm going with my daddy/ To visit Langston's house." Throughout, Collier's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Uptown) heady blend of watercolor and mixed media collage evokes the history of the writer's life and times. In the opening spread, a black-and-white painting depicting Jazz Era scenes hangs on the wall as the girl sits smiling on a couch, clutching a notebook and pen. In a kind of meditation on the poet, subsequent spreads incorporate elements of that painting, which hangs in the girl's living room: for instance, bass players and a pianist inhabit the space behind Langston at his typewriter ("Langston/ Langston/ Langston Hughes/ Wrote poems/ Like jazz"). Collier then shows the girl kneeling to read the paper in Hughes's typewriter. In the end, Perdomo adds a twist: the girl and her father stand before the doors of Langston's house and the opening lines repeat; she sits on the couch in the next spread but, this time, her notebook is open. "Langston/ Langston," says the girl. "I write poetry/ Just like Langston Hughes." Is she writing about the trip she just made? Or is she imagining the visit to come? An opening note provides a brief biographical sketch. An inspired—and inspiring—introduction to the legendary writer. Ages 4-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Feb.)

<EMPHASIS TYPE=""BOLD"">FYI:<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Langston Hughes would have celebrated his 100th birthday on February 1. This and two other titles commemorate his life and work: Love to Langston <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">by Tony Medina, illus. by R. Gregory Christie (Lee & Low, reviewed Dec. 17, 2001) andLangston Hughes: American Poet <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">by Alice Walker, illus. by Catherine Deeter (HarperCollins/Amistad, reviewed Nov. 19, 2001).

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-A rhythmic poem in praise of Langston Hughes and the writer's craft. The poem is presented by a young girl who is off to visit Hughes's Harlem home with her father. It begins, "Today I'm going to wear/My favorite pink blouse/I'm going with my daddy/To visit Langston's house." Readers quickly learn that, like Hughes, the girl is a writer and resident of Harlem. Powerful in its simplicity, the text explores the child's special connection to the famous man. "He can tell you why my/Dreams run wild/Why Daddy says I'm like/Langston's genius child." Text and illustrations complement one another perfectly as the pages of the book come to life with energetic purpose and delight. Done with a mixture of collage and watercolor with dramatic results, Collier's artwork uses muted shades of green, purple, and brown and yet shines with brilliant bits of patterns and textures. While this is obviously an urban landscape, the girl's enthusiasm and talent have universal appeal. Be sure to use this impressive collaboration to introduce young readers to the life and work of the poet (a brief author's note with some dates and titles is included) but be sure it reaches young writers as well.-Alicia Eames, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.