The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop

Explore the roots of rap in this stunning, rhyming, triple-timing picture book!

"Carole Boston Weatherford, once again, delivers a resounding testament and reminder, that hip-hop is a flavorful slice of larger cultural cake. And to be hip-hop-to truly be it-we must remember that we are also funk, jazz, soul, folktale, and poetry. We must remember that . . . we are who we are!" ―Jason Reynolds, New York Times best-selling author

"Starting with its attention-getting cover, this picture book does an excellent job of capturing the essence of rap . . . This tribute to hip hop culture will appeal to a wide audience, and practically demands multiple readings." ―Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"No way around it, this book is supa-dupa fly, with lush illustrations anchored in signature hip-hop iconography for the future of the global hip-hop nation." ―Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"With short, rhyming lines and dramatic portraits of performers, the creative team behind How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace offers a dynamic introduction to hip-hop. . . . This artful introduction to one of the most influential cultural movements of the 20th century pulses with the energy and rhythm of its subject." ―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

A generation voicing
stories, hopes, and fears
founds a hip-hop nation.
Say holler if you hear.

The roots of rap and the history of hip-hop have origins that precede DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. Kids will learn about how it evolved from folktales, spirituals, and poetry, to the showmanship of James Brown, to the culture of graffiti art and break dancing that formed around the art form and gave birth to the musical artists we know today. Written in lyrical rhythm by award-winning author and poet Carole Boston Weatherford and complete with flowing, vibrant illustrations by Frank Morrison, this book beautifully illustrates how hip-hop is a language spoken the whole world 'round, and it features a foreword by Swizz Beatz, a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop rapper, DJ, and record producer.

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Published: 01/08/2019
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 10.20h x 10.30w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781499804119
Audience: Ages 4-8


Award: Golden Kite - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 10/15/2018 pg. 44
School Library Journal 11/01/2018 pg. 89
Kirkus Reviews 11/01/2018 pg. 103
Publishers Weekly 02/25/2019
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2019 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw

About the Author
Carole Boston Weatherford has written many award-winning books for children, including Coretta Scott King winner RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul; Caldecott Honor winners Freedom in Congo Square; Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer; and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, as well as Golden Kite Award winners Dear Mr. Rosenwald; Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library; and The Roots of Rap. She is currently a professor of English at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, where she created a hip-hop course. Find out more about her at cbweatherford.com.

Frank Morrison was born in Massachusetts and moved to New Jersey at an early age. He grew up during the early days of rap music, graffiti, and break dancing. A well-known graffiti artist and also an accomplished break-dancer, he was actually part of the Sugar Hill Gang's dance entourage. It was during one of the group's European tours that he got a chance to visit the Louvre in Paris and was so intrigued by all the magnificent art that he decided to return to his roots and become an artist. His talent and hard work paid off with over 20 illustrated children's books, including the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award winner, Jazzy Miz Mozetta; Coretta Scott King winner RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul; and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone.