Uptown

Collier, Bryan. 2000. UPTOWN. Ill. by Bryan Collier. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.
ISBN 0329233130

*Summary

A young boy describes the sights, sounds, and tastes of his home, Uptown-Harlem, New York City.

*Critical Analysis

Bryan Collier’s Coretta Scott King Award winning book UPTOWN is a poem picture book which features a seemingly simple description of Harlem. The poem’s rhythm is composed of free verse with a pattern of description beginning with “Uptown is...” This sentence is followed by an opinion, musing, or description which provides more information regarding some aspect of Uptown. This pattern makes the rhythm of the poem casual and conversational; the voice of the young speaker is evident.

Collier’s effective use of figurative language includes similes, metaphors, and personification. “Uptown is a caterpillar,” and the windows with awnings “look like they’re all dressed up.” Similarly, the notes of the Harlem Boys Choir’s song land “like a butterfly.” This figurative language works well to create clear images of the scenes of Harlem. Another example of imagery is the young boy’s explanation of the brownstones which “look like they’re made of chocolate” to him as he walks looks down the block.

Emotions evoked by the poem are enthusiasm and pride. Through his young speaker, Collier communicates a love for family, friends, and the historical neighborhood. “Uptown is Harlem…Harlem world, my world,” the boy says. Collier’s style also contributes to the overall feeling of the poem. The descriptions are easy to understand; they are not forced or overly dramatic. Readers sense a genuine affection for the poem’s subject.

The award-winning illustrations definitely add to the appeal of the poem book. Using watercolor and photographs in collage, Collier depicts scenes which are at once realistic and somewhat abstract. The warmth and familiarity of the scenes and people make Harlem come to life on the pages of the book. A combination of single and double-page spreads compliment the words of the poem and may help younger readers have a better understanding of the poem’s meaning. The text of the poem itself is also arranged to add to the feeling of the poem. For example, “Uptown is a caterpillar” appears in the shape of a crawling caterpillar.

Cultural markers abound in both the text and illustrations of UPTOWN. The people are portrayed with hairstyles, clothes, and skin color consistent with the culture of Harlem. Food (chicken and waffles), religion (girls going to church in yellow dresses), entertainment (shows at the Apollo Theater), and art (Van Der Zee photograph) are also all true to the culture Collier is portraying in his book.

*Response

I absolutely love this book and I cannot wait to share it with my students in the library. The natural flow of the words and the beautiful illustrations make it a great one to read aloud. I think students of different ages will enjoy this book for different reasons. I know that the younger children will love to study the illustrations and find the photographs that accompany the watercolor paintings.

*Review Excerpts

Looking from his window high above the sights and sounds of the city, the young narrator concludes, "Uptown is Harlem-Harlem world, my world. Uptown is home." From his perspective, it's the very best place to be, and readers will find it difficult to disagree.
School Library Journal

It's the artwork that takes center stage, the gorgeous, textured collages giving impressions of spaces and moments in the boy's neighborhood. Suggest this to elementary-school teachers in lower grades who are looking for new materials about place and home.
BookList

*Connections

-Read other books illustrated by Bryan Collier. Compare and contrast the art.
-Conduct research on one of the landmarks of Harlem mentioned in the poem.
-Read other shape poems. Create a shape poem to share with the class.
-Write a poem about your hometown or neighborhood.