That Is My Dream!

A picture book of Langston Hughes's "Dream Variation"

Illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Look inside
“Dream Variation,” one of Langston Hughes's most celebrated poems, about the dream of a world free of discrimination and racial prejudice, is now a picture book stunningly illustrated by Daniel Miyares, the acclaimed creator of Float.

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done….

Langston Hughes's inspiring and timeless message of pride, joy, and the dream of a better life is brilliantly and beautifully interpreted in Daniel Miyares's gorgeous artwork.
 
Follow one African-American boy through the course of his day as the harsh reality of segregation and racial prejudice comes into vivid focus. But the boy dreams of a different life—one full of freedom, hope, and wild possibility, where he can fling his arms wide in the face of the sun.

Hughes's powerful vision, brought joyously to life by Daniel Miyares, is as relevant—and necessary—today as when it was first written.
Langston Hughes (1902–1967), a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance and one of the most influential and esteemed writers of the twentieth century, was born in Joplin, Missouri, and spent much of his childhood in Kansas before moving to Harlem. His first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published in 1926; its success helped him to win a scholarship to Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, from which he received his B.A. in 1929 and an honorary Litt.D. in 1943. Among his other awards and honors were a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Rosenwald Fellowship, and a grant from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Hughes published more than thirty-five books, including works of poetry, short stories, novels, an autobiography, musicals, essays, and plays.

Angela Flournoy (introduction) was a finalist for the National Book Award for her debut novel, The Turner House. Her fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, and she has written for The New York TimesThe New Republic, and the Los Angeles Times. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Flournoy was raised by a mother from Los Angeles and a father from Detroit and now lives in Brooklyn. View titles by Langston Hughes
Daniel Miyares is the critically acclaimed author-illustrator of NIGHT OUT, which was called a “pleasure” by Publishers Weekly in a starred review, and FLOAT, which the Boston Globe called a “perfect wordless picture book.” He is also the illustrator of NIGHT WALK TO THE SEA, written by Deborah Wiles, described as “majestic” by Bulletin Center for Children’s Books, and THAT IS MY DREAM! a picture book version of Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variation,” hailed as “a must-read” by Kirkus in a starred review. He lives in Kansas with his family. View titles by Daniel Miyares

Educator Guide for That Is My Dream!

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

  • SELECTION | 2018
    Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2018
    CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Virginia Capitol Choices Award List
"A must-read illustrated poem that breathes new life into Hughes' "Dream Variation." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"With luminous washes of watercolor and the lyrical language of Hughes’s 1924 poem as his text, Miyares (That Neighbor Kid) presents a resonant vision of an African-American boy who imagines a more just world." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

That Is My Dream! - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

About

“Dream Variation,” one of Langston Hughes's most celebrated poems, about the dream of a world free of discrimination and racial prejudice, is now a picture book stunningly illustrated by Daniel Miyares, the acclaimed creator of Float.

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done….

Langston Hughes's inspiring and timeless message of pride, joy, and the dream of a better life is brilliantly and beautifully interpreted in Daniel Miyares's gorgeous artwork.
 
Follow one African-American boy through the course of his day as the harsh reality of segregation and racial prejudice comes into vivid focus. But the boy dreams of a different life—one full of freedom, hope, and wild possibility, where he can fling his arms wide in the face of the sun.

Hughes's powerful vision, brought joyously to life by Daniel Miyares, is as relevant—and necessary—today as when it was first written.

Author

Langston Hughes (1902–1967), a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance and one of the most influential and esteemed writers of the twentieth century, was born in Joplin, Missouri, and spent much of his childhood in Kansas before moving to Harlem. His first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published in 1926; its success helped him to win a scholarship to Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, from which he received his B.A. in 1929 and an honorary Litt.D. in 1943. Among his other awards and honors were a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Rosenwald Fellowship, and a grant from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Hughes published more than thirty-five books, including works of poetry, short stories, novels, an autobiography, musicals, essays, and plays.

Angela Flournoy (introduction) was a finalist for the National Book Award for her debut novel, The Turner House. Her fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, and she has written for The New York TimesThe New Republic, and the Los Angeles Times. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Flournoy was raised by a mother from Los Angeles and a father from Detroit and now lives in Brooklyn. View titles by Langston Hughes
Daniel Miyares is the critically acclaimed author-illustrator of NIGHT OUT, which was called a “pleasure” by Publishers Weekly in a starred review, and FLOAT, which the Boston Globe called a “perfect wordless picture book.” He is also the illustrator of NIGHT WALK TO THE SEA, written by Deborah Wiles, described as “majestic” by Bulletin Center for Children’s Books, and THAT IS MY DREAM! a picture book version of Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variation,” hailed as “a must-read” by Kirkus in a starred review. He lives in Kansas with his family. View titles by Daniel Miyares

Guides

Educator Guide for That Is My Dream!

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Awards

  • SELECTION | 2018
    Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2018
    CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Virginia Capitol Choices Award List

Praise

"A must-read illustrated poem that breathes new life into Hughes' "Dream Variation." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"With luminous washes of watercolor and the lyrical language of Hughes’s 1924 poem as his text, Miyares (That Neighbor Kid) presents a resonant vision of an African-American boy who imagines a more just world." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Media

That Is My Dream! - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

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