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Sail Away

Colorful illustration of a person in a boat on waves, pointing at the sky. Text reads: “sail away, poems by Langston Hughes, art by Ashley Bryan.”.

Written by Langston Hughes, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

The great African American poet Langston Hughes penned poem after poem about the majesty of the sea, and the great African American artist Ashley Bryan, who’s spent more than half his life on a small island, is as drawn to the sea as much as he draws the sea. Their talents combine in this windswept collection of illustrated poems—from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” to “Seascape,” from “Sea Calm” to “Sea Charm”—that celebrates all things oceanic.
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The Creators

A man with short dark hair and a mustache wears a yellow shirt and dark tie, sitting in front of a red and orange background, looking slightly to the left of the camera.

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (1902–1967) was born in Joplin, Missouri, and lived much of his life in Harlem, New York. As one of America’s most cherished chroniclers of the black experience, known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes’s work was constantly groundbreaking throughout his forty-six-year career. His poetry about the ocean and the symbolism that surrounds it stems from his travels through Africa and Europe while working as a seaman.

An older man with gray hair and a mustache smiles while holding and reading the book “Beautiful Blackbird” by Ashley Bryan in a cozy, book-filled room.

Ashley Bryan

Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine.

Explore More 2026 Books

Illustrated cover of “Hairstory” showing a smiling child with braided hair spread out, set against a light, artistic background. Book credits appear at the top.
Three children and a dog run along a wooden dock in a waterside village; the book title reads “KOROBÁ: The Case of the Missing Kolo” by Alaba Onajin.
Book cover of "Beautiful Blackbird" by Ashley Bryan, featuring a black bird with spread wings, colorful rays, and a medal emblem in the bottom right corner.
Illustrated cover of “Saturday” by Oge Mora shows a woman and a child holding hands, walking joyfully together through a colorful cityscape.
Three children stand under a tree with a girl in traditional dress sitting on a branch above them. The book title “Fibbed” and author “Elizabeth Agyemang” are displayed.
A person with goggles and a snorkel swims underwater; the text reads “The Deepest Blue,” with writing credits for Shauntay Grant and illustration by Daniel Miulter.
A young girl with curly hair sits at a cluttered desk, smiling at a hovering robot in a glowing, futuristic room. The book cover reads “The Girl and The Robot.”.
Colorful book cover featuring a stylized owl on a crescent moon, surrounded by geometric patterns. Title: “The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs” by Ashley Bryan.

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