Awards

• Commended for Audies (Middle Grades) 2016

Overview

Experience the breadth and depth of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry--and learn how it reflects his singular life as a late-nineteenth-century black man. Did you know that Paul Laurence Dunbar originated such famous lines as I know why the caged bird sings and We wear the mask that grins and lies ? From his childhood in poverty and his early promise as a poet through his struggles to find acceptance as a writer and his tumultuous romance with his wife, to his immense fame and his untimely death, Dunbar's story is one of triumph and tragedy. But his legacy remains in his much-beloved poetry--told in both Standard English and in dialect--which continues to delight and inspire readers today. More than two dozen of Dunbar's poems are woven throughout this volume, illuminating the phases of his life and serving as examples of dialect, imagery, and tone. Narrating in a voice full of admiration and respect, Sally Derby introduces Paul Laurence Dunbar's life and poetry to listeners young and old.

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9781491502372

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Sally Derby is the author of several books for young readers, including Kyle's Island and No Mush Today, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. She says, For years, I wanted to write a book about Paul Laurence Dunbar, the famous poet from Dayton, Ohio, but I didn't know how. Then one day, I heard a voice saying, You never heard of the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar? Child, where've you been? And once I'd heard that voice, I knew how to write the story. Sally Derby lives in Cincinnati.

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