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Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a celebration of poetry with a beat.
Poetry can have both a rhyme and a rhythm. Sometimes it is obvious; sometimes it is hidden. But either way, make no mistake, poetry is as vibrant and exciting as it gets. And when you find yourself clapping your hands or tapping your feet, you know you've found poetry with a beat!
Like Poetry Speaks to Children, the New York Times Bestselling classic poetry book and CD that started it all, Hip Hop Speaks to Children is meant to be the beginning of a journey of discovery.
READ more than 50 remarkable poems and songs!
HEAR poetry's rhymes and rhythms from Queen Latifah to Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes to A Tribe Called Quest and more!
Book Details:
80 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
841 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Giovanni
164 books1,415 followersYolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the world's most well-known African-American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature. She won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Additionally, she was named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends". Giovanni was a member of The Wintergreen Women Writers Collective.
Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution". During the 1970s, she began writing children's literature, and co-founded a publishing company, NikTom Ltd, to provide an outlet for other African-American women writers. Over subsequent decades, her works discussed social issues, human relationships, and hip hop. Poems such as "Knoxville, Tennessee" and "Nikki-Rosa" have been frequently re-published in anthologies and other collections.
Giovanni received numerous awards and holds 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities. She was also given the key to over two dozen cities. Giovanni was honored with the NAACP Image Award seven times. One of her more unique honors was having a South America bat species, Micronycteris giovanniae, named after her in 2007.
Giovanni was proud of her Appalachian roots and worked to change the way the world views Appalachians and Affrilachians.
Giovanni taught at Queens College, Rutgers, and Ohio State, and was a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech until September 1, 2022. After the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, she delivered a chant-poem at a memorial for the shooting victims.
Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution". During the 1970s, she began writing children's literature, and co-founded a publishing company, NikTom Ltd, to provide an outlet for other African-American women writers. Over subsequent decades, her works discussed social issues, human relationships, and hip hop. Poems such as "Knoxville, Tennessee" and "Nikki-Rosa" have been frequently re-published in anthologies and other collections.
Giovanni received numerous awards and holds 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities. She was also given the key to over two dozen cities. Giovanni was honored with the NAACP Image Award seven times. One of her more unique honors was having a South America bat species, Micronycteris giovanniae, named after her in 2007.
Giovanni was proud of her Appalachian roots and worked to change the way the world views Appalachians and Affrilachians.
Giovanni taught at Queens College, Rutgers, and Ohio State, and was a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech until September 1, 2022. After the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, she delivered a chant-poem at a memorial for the shooting victims.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
January 14, 2009
The best of this poetry, imho, is Hip Hop; but most of it isn't, and a lot of it isn't particularly beat driven. The performances on the accompanying CD also vary greatly in their resemblance to HipHop.
I have nothing against the poetry here, some of it is quite good. But kids know what is and isn't hip hop. Hip Hop deserves respect in its own right and shouldn't be used as a shill to get kids to read poetry.
I have nothing against the poetry here, some of it is quite good. But kids know what is and isn't hip hop. Hip Hop deserves respect in its own right and shouldn't be used as a shill to get kids to read poetry.
July 21, 2021
Big love to the intro of this book by Giovanni- as a poetry undergrad major I get really excited about likening poetry to hip hop and rap, and the validation of vernacular English, in addition to how opera is likened to rap. It's exciting and beautiful to read about rap and hip hop through a lens of artistry and validation, because it IS. Paralleling it to poetry helps me become a better writer too, learning different methods of looking at sound and words to create saturated, easy to hear poems. This book reflects that. It's a book of poems by people of color, with some lyrics from stars like Lauryn Hill and Kanye West tossed in. I typically do not like poetry collections for kids because most of the subject matter feels very shallow and silly and weird, but this collection has enough of a focus that I like it better than usual.
April 11, 2017
This anthology of poems was put together by Nikki Giovanni to excite and inspire young readers to love poetry. The book includes poems from popular poets such as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, as well as song lyrics from Kanye West and Queen Latifah. The individual poems span a variety of themes and topics. Some are about love or family and some are more specific to the culture of the particular poet. The dialect in some of the poems follows that of the poet's background and experiences, rather than keeping "perfect grammar" that students are asked to use in their schoolwork. All of the poems in the anthology have a beat that is east for children to pick up on, especially when it is written about rap or R & B music, encouraging children to make the connection between poetry and the music they listen to. The illustrations in the text are incredibly detailed and beautifully drawn to go along with the poem on each page.
I think this is a great book to include in any classroom library because it connects something most children love, music, with a genre of literature that students are not exposed to as frequently. If a student does not particularly enjoy reading, I believe this book of poems would still appeal to many children because of its fun, musical nature. The fact that there are poems and lyrics by popular rappers and singers in the anthology makes it that much more appealing. There is also a CD that is included with the book and it has musical renditions of some of the poems. Students can listen to the CD as they read along with the poem (or before/ after) to relate their reading and literacy work to exciting, upbeat music. I think it would make a great introduction into studying other music and looking at it from a writing/ literacy point of view. Doing this would allow a lesson on different cultures and how poetry and literature is seen in different cultures.
The poems are written from a cultural perspective and I believe that most children will appreciate that they can relate to what the poet is sharing in some of the different entries. The fact that many of the poems are written in the dialect of the poet is an important detail to acknowledge when students are reading this book. In school there is such a strong focus on teaching proper grammar and spelling and I think it is important to show students that using a variation of the language is just as valuable. There is a certain beauty about expressing one's feelings in a way that is unique to that individual and I think students will realize that when reading the poems in this anthology.
I think this is a great book to include in any classroom library because it connects something most children love, music, with a genre of literature that students are not exposed to as frequently. If a student does not particularly enjoy reading, I believe this book of poems would still appeal to many children because of its fun, musical nature. The fact that there are poems and lyrics by popular rappers and singers in the anthology makes it that much more appealing. There is also a CD that is included with the book and it has musical renditions of some of the poems. Students can listen to the CD as they read along with the poem (or before/ after) to relate their reading and literacy work to exciting, upbeat music. I think it would make a great introduction into studying other music and looking at it from a writing/ literacy point of view. Doing this would allow a lesson on different cultures and how poetry and literature is seen in different cultures.
The poems are written from a cultural perspective and I believe that most children will appreciate that they can relate to what the poet is sharing in some of the different entries. The fact that many of the poems are written in the dialect of the poet is an important detail to acknowledge when students are reading this book. In school there is such a strong focus on teaching proper grammar and spelling and I think it is important to show students that using a variation of the language is just as valuable. There is a certain beauty about expressing one's feelings in a way that is unique to that individual and I think students will realize that when reading the poems in this anthology.
March 11, 2013
I read this poetry anthology on audio CD, and this is my review:
Hip Hop Speaks to Children, is a compilation of poems that are written, illustrated and performed by a diverse group of writers, artists and musicians, all of who have earned notoriety for their unique contributions to their fields. Among some of the many award-winning writers are Eloise Greenfield, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the musicians, who perform their poems are Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, and Mos Def. Six illustrators created the images for the fifty-one poems in the compilation. The illustrators’ styles are varied in style and medium. The artists use collage, printmaking, pastels, oils and computer generated images. Although the images vary, one thing they all have in common is bold color.
Nikki Giovanni is the editor of, Hip Hop Speaks to Children. She has written more than twenty-four books including, Rosa, which was a New York Times Bestseller, a Caldecott Honor Book, and the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award in 2006. In, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, Giovanni brings young readers into the world of poetry by making meaningful connections to their lives and cultures. The CD that accompanies the book, features many musicians that children have heard of. Readers will be amazed to find out that the music they listen to for pleasure is poetry. This realization makes poetry (a sometimes abstract form of writing) more relatable. Students will engage more in reading and interpreting the poems’ messages in this book because they are conveyed through a popular music. Some of the many compelling themes in the poetry of, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, are freedom, love, sacrifice, hope and courage. This compilation is creative, thoughtful and inspiring.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children, is a compilation of poems that are written, illustrated and performed by a diverse group of writers, artists and musicians, all of who have earned notoriety for their unique contributions to their fields. Among some of the many award-winning writers are Eloise Greenfield, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the musicians, who perform their poems are Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, and Mos Def. Six illustrators created the images for the fifty-one poems in the compilation. The illustrators’ styles are varied in style and medium. The artists use collage, printmaking, pastels, oils and computer generated images. Although the images vary, one thing they all have in common is bold color.
Nikki Giovanni is the editor of, Hip Hop Speaks to Children. She has written more than twenty-four books including, Rosa, which was a New York Times Bestseller, a Caldecott Honor Book, and the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award in 2006. In, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, Giovanni brings young readers into the world of poetry by making meaningful connections to their lives and cultures. The CD that accompanies the book, features many musicians that children have heard of. Readers will be amazed to find out that the music they listen to for pleasure is poetry. This realization makes poetry (a sometimes abstract form of writing) more relatable. Students will engage more in reading and interpreting the poems’ messages in this book because they are conveyed through a popular music. Some of the many compelling themes in the poetry of, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, are freedom, love, sacrifice, hope and courage. This compilation is creative, thoughtful and inspiring.
April 14, 2021
This book is made up of a bunch of different poems. In this book there is poems about hip hop, books, love, etc. I think this is a great book for children to learn about poetry and that it is not all boring. This book is a great way for kids to start reading and understanding poetry. I enjoyed reading some poems out of this book. I never really liked poetry, but this book makes reading poems fun and enjoyable.
April 11, 2022
This book would be a great book to read when introducing poetry to the students. It incorporates Hip-Hop and music into poetry which can be a more exciting way to connect the students to poetry.
September 12, 2011
I spent weeks looking for quality contemporary poetry for children that was both appealing and appropriate; many childrens' collections and anthologies I encountered contained a lot of "classic" poetry that - while certainly of good quality - became difficult to read and explain to young students considering their often-dated language and cumbersome turns of phrase. "Poetry should be felt, not simply heard," I'd thought, but this is lost on many children who are still acquiring an understanding of the English language and may not be able to take any significant meaning away from the works of Crane and Dickinson. This was also where I had gone wrong; poetry can of course not even be "heard" by anyone silently scanning the page to themselves, be it in a classroom or at home or anywhere. It's difficult to "feel" poetry, too, when it's simply just read to you. This is about when I began paying mind to books like this one.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a collection of performance poetry by Nikki Giovanni and others, including popular artists like Mos Def, Queen Latifah, and Kanye West (don't worry, it's squeaky-clean). Following my flop reading selected poems by Stephen Crane to grade-schoolers one week, I brought in Hip Hop Speaks to Children and "rapped" to the kids about stories and concepts they could understand and relate to - from being creative to being alone to standing up for what you believe in. Granted, you won't encounter the beautiful word-weaving of many classic poets, but that's the point - Hip Hop Speaks to Children's wide range of appeal and easy-to-access language enables listeners to really start "feeling" poetry, and - if the presenter is brave enough (if not, an audio CD of many of the original artists performing their works - some with music - is included) - for the performer to feel it, too. Hip Hop Speaks to Children is good, clean fun with a purpose.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a collection of performance poetry by Nikki Giovanni and others, including popular artists like Mos Def, Queen Latifah, and Kanye West (don't worry, it's squeaky-clean). Following my flop reading selected poems by Stephen Crane to grade-schoolers one week, I brought in Hip Hop Speaks to Children and "rapped" to the kids about stories and concepts they could understand and relate to - from being creative to being alone to standing up for what you believe in. Granted, you won't encounter the beautiful word-weaving of many classic poets, but that's the point - Hip Hop Speaks to Children's wide range of appeal and easy-to-access language enables listeners to really start "feeling" poetry, and - if the presenter is brave enough (if not, an audio CD of many of the original artists performing their works - some with music - is included) - for the performer to feel it, too. Hip Hop Speaks to Children is good, clean fun with a purpose.
March 14, 2013
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat is a beautiful book. I read the book first; the poetry without the CD so that I could try to get the beat of the poem. Then I read the poem with the CD and I must say it was much better reading the poem with the CD playing giving me the beat of the poem. There are poem from carious artist and poet such as A Tribe Called Quest reading "Ham ‘N Eggs", Gary Soto reading his own poem "Music for Fun and Profit", Ms. Giovanni reading "The Girls in the Circle", Kanye West reading "Hey Mama", Queen Latifah performing "From Ladies First", Mos Def – "From Umi Says", readings from Langston Hughes, Eloise Greenfield, Common, Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lauryn Hill performing "Everything is Everything.
The illustration a just spectacular, each one is unique as seen through the eyes of the artist. The illustrations are a perfect match to the poem it represents without taking away for the poem message.
All students will love this book of poem as well as the CD. I can see the students moving and singing to the beat of the poem with the CD and in no time, the students will in a short time, learn the entire book.
The illustration a just spectacular, each one is unique as seen through the eyes of the artist. The illustrations are a perfect match to the poem it represents without taking away for the poem message.
All students will love this book of poem as well as the CD. I can see the students moving and singing to the beat of the poem with the CD and in no time, the students will in a short time, learn the entire book.
April 20, 2015
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat by Nikki Giovanni (Audio Book)
This is one of the best poetry books I have seen this far. This book comes with an audio CD to allow children to listen. Music is a key factor when trying to help a child learn. I ended this book to my collection recently and I definitely have to say this book will be a keeper. This book makes reading fun and motivational. As my children listen to the sounds in the words they are bop in their head and dancing all around the classroom. When you say the poem to the beat the kids just want to hear them over and over again. This book is recommended for children in preschool through grade 3. I am a number one believer that kids can learn through music I am music to my children site words as if it was a song and they remember the words within a day or two. So my overall review I would have to give this book a 5+ because it is well put together and a great audio book. This book is also great for children with special needs. This book also won NCBLA - Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts (2009).
This is one of the best poetry books I have seen this far. This book comes with an audio CD to allow children to listen. Music is a key factor when trying to help a child learn. I ended this book to my collection recently and I definitely have to say this book will be a keeper. This book makes reading fun and motivational. As my children listen to the sounds in the words they are bop in their head and dancing all around the classroom. When you say the poem to the beat the kids just want to hear them over and over again. This book is recommended for children in preschool through grade 3. I am a number one believer that kids can learn through music I am music to my children site words as if it was a song and they remember the words within a day or two. So my overall review I would have to give this book a 5+ because it is well put together and a great audio book. This book is also great for children with special needs. This book also won NCBLA - Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts (2009).
August 28, 2016
Back in high school, probably in 1974-1975, one of my English classes was a 6 week course in Oral Interpretation; basically it was reading poetry aloud and if the poem rhymed or had rhythm we were NOT supposed to follow that, but instead read it straight. That always seemed somewhat (and occasionally) ridiculous since the rhyme and rhythm were there for a reason. Ok, I do understand that the poems shouldn't be read in a sing song style, but sometimes by reading them straight I think you miss something. This book plus cd is a collection of poems and lyrics spanning much of the 20th century, and as the cd frequently shows, they're intended to have rhythm and rhyme. The cd is not inclusive of all the poems in the book which was somewhat disappointing, and in at least 2 cases, not even the whole poem. I think my favorite poem was "Aloneness" by Gwendolyn Brooks. Quite a number of rappers and hip hop artists were included: A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, Sugarhill Gang, Queen Latifah, Young MC, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Tupac Shakur, and Stetsasonic. I read this for my 2016 Reading Challenge "read a collection of poetry" (Read Harder 2015).
January 30, 2021
"Hip Hop Speaks to Children" is a children's book of poetry and song. Well -known artists and poets contributed to the compilation of poems. Langston Hughes, Queen Latifah, Common, and Tribe Called Quest (to name a few) lyrical talents are included in the text. "Hip Hop Speaks" shows children the beauty of words and language and how poetry added to music with rhythm produced hip hop.
March 13, 2011
Incredible compilation of poetry by over 40 poets and authors. Giovanni provides a lengthy history of stories told in rhythm from opera to blues to hamboning to hip hop - or poetry with a beat. A wide range of styles, eras and poets, with several dozen performances or readings on the accompanying cd, some by the poets themselves. (I got to hear Langston Hughes read his poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" !!) This book can help get students into the beauty and the range of poetry. Besides the poems themselves, there is just so much information to share. A great addition to a classroom. And there are poems that can be found for all ages. There is one on snowman younger kids would love to repeat.
December 1, 2015
This book brings poetry to life, blurring the line between poetry and rap music in an addicting way. I purchased this book with the cd that has recordings of many of the poems being read by the poet, some with music or to a beat. The poems range in complexity- all of them are appropriate for middle school but some may be a struggle for elementary students. Beautiful, bright illustrations make it appealing from the cover on through the book. Definitely consider adding this book to your collection! My middle school students really enjoyed it. We used it in an informal poetry walk and then as part of a poetry jam and I plan to use it again next year.
October 11, 2021
Haven't listened to the CD yet, but my favorite poems are Things (1), Audition (10), Love Poem for my People (34), The Creation (40), We Wear the Mask (56), Who Will Cry (57), and Doubtless (60).
Update: A couple years later, I got this book from the library again, and we listened to the CD in the van. There are several poems that I can say parts along with it. We LOVE it (I actually changed my rating from 4 to 5). My boys (9, 7, 3, 2) especially love the one about "that big elapunt ober der".
Update: A couple years later, I got this book from the library again, and we listened to the CD in the van. There are several poems that I can say parts along with it. We LOVE it (I actually changed my rating from 4 to 5). My boys (9, 7, 3, 2) especially love the one about "that big elapunt ober der".
November 28, 2021
An excellent example of a contemporary poetry style that many children today will find relevant and enjoyable. This text is an anthology predominantly written by current popular hip hop artists and poets that students in fourth through eighth grade can read independently recognizing the poets with which they are already familiar as well as some authors of historical significance. While this text as a whole is better suited to older elementary and middle school aged students, many of the poems would make an excellent read-aloud for students in earlier grades. This selection of poems is particularly special as it provides a way for students to explore hip hop and rap's vernacular style including unique rhythms and rhymes divorced from the often inappropriate topics and images that are heavily present in a large majority of this subtype of the poetry genre. Additionally, this text is infused with African-American poetry of historical significance including authors such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and James Weldon Johnson. Accompanying these well written and empathetic poems are colorful and relatable illustrations that create mood and ambiance to help the reader's imagination. This text fosters a deeper understanding of the African-American culture for students of alternate backgrounds as well as a reflection for those who identify with the illuminated culture of hip hop.
As a mentor text for writing poetry, this selection would provide numerous examples for students to emulate while composing their own poetic creations. With poems that include examples of rhythmic poetry, lyrical poetry, and visual or shape poetry, the variety of examples in this book will stimulate ideas that can help provide a foundational platform on which students will be able to build their own works. In a social studies lesson, this text would be helpful in identifying significant cultural representations that students can discuss to contrast with their own life experiences. Students can make drawings of scenes from the poems and contrast them with drawings from their own similar life experiences to better understand the cultural differences in the text. As a lesson during the month of February, this text would provide an illustrating tapestry of African-American cultural history and unique social significance for students to explore for deeper understanding. Students will be able to enjoy the variety of poetry examples while easily identifying with the contemporary authors in this text and learning about the African-American culture making this an excellent text to explore in the elementary classroom.
As a mentor text for writing poetry, this selection would provide numerous examples for students to emulate while composing their own poetic creations. With poems that include examples of rhythmic poetry, lyrical poetry, and visual or shape poetry, the variety of examples in this book will stimulate ideas that can help provide a foundational platform on which students will be able to build their own works. In a social studies lesson, this text would be helpful in identifying significant cultural representations that students can discuss to contrast with their own life experiences. Students can make drawings of scenes from the poems and contrast them with drawings from their own similar life experiences to better understand the cultural differences in the text. As a lesson during the month of February, this text would provide an illustrating tapestry of African-American cultural history and unique social significance for students to explore for deeper understanding. Students will be able to enjoy the variety of poetry examples while easily identifying with the contemporary authors in this text and learning about the African-American culture making this an excellent text to explore in the elementary classroom.
January 26, 2022
The first thing that made me pick up this book to read was the title itself, “Hip Hop Speaks to Children” because that’s the best way to get children more involved, through song and poetry. Nikki Giovanni does a remarkable job in the introduction where she gives the reader a picture of what the black experience has looked like throughout time. Before the poems began, she explained how rhythm, rap and hip hop began, why it was important, and how the image has changed over time. For those who have actually lived the black experience, it felt like core memories being brought out from childhood that only one could feel if they’ve lived it.
The one thing I love most about the poems is that AAVE is used throughout most of the book, making it relatable. It’s not proper English, and for a child, one of color especially, it’s familiar. To have writing that doesn’t correct your ain’ts because it may make one sound uneducated is necessary. This is a really good book for children in the classroom to learn about diversity and stereotypes.
One poem that caught my attention is “Aloneness” by Gwendolyn Brooks, reading this one as an adult hit pretty close to home but in the perspective of a child, I don’t believe they’d truly understand the difference between Aloneness and Loneliness because they haven’t experienced life beyond four walls. I love the image of the little boy looking at his reflection because part of the quote says “sometimes I think it is not possible to be alone. You are with you,” (p.5) and it reflects that even in times where you may feel loneliness, you have you throughout it all.
One downside of the book is that even though this is a poetry book included in song, not every poem flows well. “Why some people be mad at me sometimes” by Lucille Clifton is an example of this, it's short and to the point but it doesn’t completely fit the rhythm, rap, Hip Hop like the rest. Regardless, almost every poem has a cute illustration that goes along with the text. That goes to say each illustration matches the tone as well. For the poems that are happier themed, you see children playing, bright colors, smiles, and for those that are more serious show warmer colors and drawings that set a more serious tone.
This would be a book I’d use in the classroom. Especially since there are so many famous writers, rappers and lyricists in this book. It seems like it would be a teachable moment for childrens character development and also how they treat others. I believe a child in 3rd grade and higher could possibly have a deep connection to some of these poems
The one thing I love most about the poems is that AAVE is used throughout most of the book, making it relatable. It’s not proper English, and for a child, one of color especially, it’s familiar. To have writing that doesn’t correct your ain’ts because it may make one sound uneducated is necessary. This is a really good book for children in the classroom to learn about diversity and stereotypes.
One poem that caught my attention is “Aloneness” by Gwendolyn Brooks, reading this one as an adult hit pretty close to home but in the perspective of a child, I don’t believe they’d truly understand the difference between Aloneness and Loneliness because they haven’t experienced life beyond four walls. I love the image of the little boy looking at his reflection because part of the quote says “sometimes I think it is not possible to be alone. You are with you,” (p.5) and it reflects that even in times where you may feel loneliness, you have you throughout it all.
One downside of the book is that even though this is a poetry book included in song, not every poem flows well. “Why some people be mad at me sometimes” by Lucille Clifton is an example of this, it's short and to the point but it doesn’t completely fit the rhythm, rap, Hip Hop like the rest. Regardless, almost every poem has a cute illustration that goes along with the text. That goes to say each illustration matches the tone as well. For the poems that are happier themed, you see children playing, bright colors, smiles, and for those that are more serious show warmer colors and drawings that set a more serious tone.
This would be a book I’d use in the classroom. Especially since there are so many famous writers, rappers and lyricists in this book. It seems like it would be a teachable moment for childrens character development and also how they treat others. I believe a child in 3rd grade and higher could possibly have a deep connection to some of these poems
April 14, 2022
This review is for educational and informative purposes. I hope you enjoy!
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry is a poetic piece of literature that memorializes the rhythmic structure prominent in music and poetry. The book has various poems by award-winning writers such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Queen Latifah. I enjoy how the book opens by defining poetry and how it stimulates imaginative reflection and reason. The introduction also has content about the origin of hip hop and the creation through integrating other musical forms. Furthermore, the intended audience is children seven and up; however, the book can be used with younger children since it includes an audio CD with narration. Depending on the age group, an adult would have to shift the intention to accommodate the listener’s understanding. For instance, if working with elementary students, an educator may introduce the class to the fundamentals of poetry with a history lesson about hip hop history. In contrast, in a classroom for younger children, it a sensory learning through resources by using the book for a music and movement exercises. The illustrations in the book were very eye-catching. The representations include a lot of vivid hues, forms, and shapes. I would note that if the book was used for toddlers and younger children, the abstract portraits might be overwhelming as they are neither realistic nor practical. However, again, an educator could identify how to appropriately deliver the content to accommodate the younger age group. For example, an educator could use abstract illustrations to aid children with sensory exploration. All-around, I rated this book a four-stars because the audio and title are slightly misleading. There is a significant hip-hop presence, but there is also evidence of Jazz and Gospel, which I must note was still enjoyable and rhythmical. Within the introduction, Nikki Giovanni did note that hip hop originated by fusing various musical genre; however, it would be better to introduce the other musical genres in the opening of the book. That way, readers could organically recognize how hip hop evolved. The lack of organization could confuse children when identifying unique rhythms evident in hip hop.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry is a poetic piece of literature that memorializes the rhythmic structure prominent in music and poetry. The book has various poems by award-winning writers such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Queen Latifah. I enjoy how the book opens by defining poetry and how it stimulates imaginative reflection and reason. The introduction also has content about the origin of hip hop and the creation through integrating other musical forms. Furthermore, the intended audience is children seven and up; however, the book can be used with younger children since it includes an audio CD with narration. Depending on the age group, an adult would have to shift the intention to accommodate the listener’s understanding. For instance, if working with elementary students, an educator may introduce the class to the fundamentals of poetry with a history lesson about hip hop history. In contrast, in a classroom for younger children, it a sensory learning through resources by using the book for a music and movement exercises. The illustrations in the book were very eye-catching. The representations include a lot of vivid hues, forms, and shapes. I would note that if the book was used for toddlers and younger children, the abstract portraits might be overwhelming as they are neither realistic nor practical. However, again, an educator could identify how to appropriately deliver the content to accommodate the younger age group. For example, an educator could use abstract illustrations to aid children with sensory exploration. All-around, I rated this book a four-stars because the audio and title are slightly misleading. There is a significant hip-hop presence, but there is also evidence of Jazz and Gospel, which I must note was still enjoyable and rhythmical. Within the introduction, Nikki Giovanni did note that hip hop originated by fusing various musical genre; however, it would be better to introduce the other musical genres in the opening of the book. That way, readers could organically recognize how hip hop evolved. The lack of organization could confuse children when identifying unique rhythms evident in hip hop.
September 16, 2025
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat is a 70-page picture book edited by Nikki Giovanni and accompanied by an audio CD. About 50 poems and songs are presented or excerpted, written in a variety of fonts, and illustrated by five different artists. Many of the lyrics are performed on the CD, which takes 48 minutes to play, and some are accompanied by oral introductions.
The main effect is the blurring of boundaries between poems and songs (especially rap). For example, "Everything is Everything" by Lauren Hill and "No Regrets" by Aesop Rock appear in the book but not the CD. If you didn't already know that they are songs, you would get the impression that they are poems (not that there's anything wrong with that). Conversely, "Long Track Blues" by Sterling A. Brown is sung on the CD, even though it's usually described as a poem.
TBH, I didn't recognize most of the texts, but the ones I did know were "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes (poem), "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang (rap), "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks (poem), "Principal's Office" by Young MC (rap), and "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson (from his 1927 book God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse, which I reviewed here).
The last two tracks on the CD are "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – first the original speech and then a rhythmic performance by Nikki Giovanni, Ori Lasana, and Val Gray Ward. (The three of them together also do a rhythmic performance of "We Real Cool" on the CD.)
Giovanni, who died recently at the age of 81, was a prolific African-American poet (her Wikipedia page is here). Her book-CD combination is very creative. It's too bad that it relies on what has since become outmoded technology. (How many kids today have access to a CD player?) I hope that someone corrects this problem by making the audio tracks available on the internet.
The main effect is the blurring of boundaries between poems and songs (especially rap). For example, "Everything is Everything" by Lauren Hill and "No Regrets" by Aesop Rock appear in the book but not the CD. If you didn't already know that they are songs, you would get the impression that they are poems (not that there's anything wrong with that). Conversely, "Long Track Blues" by Sterling A. Brown is sung on the CD, even though it's usually described as a poem.
TBH, I didn't recognize most of the texts, but the ones I did know were "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes (poem), "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang (rap), "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks (poem), "Principal's Office" by Young MC (rap), and "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson (from his 1927 book God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse, which I reviewed here).
The last two tracks on the CD are "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – first the original speech and then a rhythmic performance by Nikki Giovanni, Ori Lasana, and Val Gray Ward. (The three of them together also do a rhythmic performance of "We Real Cool" on the CD.)
Giovanni, who died recently at the age of 81, was a prolific African-American poet (her Wikipedia page is here). Her book-CD combination is very creative. It's too bad that it relies on what has since become outmoded technology. (How many kids today have access to a CD player?) I hope that someone corrects this problem by making the audio tracks available on the internet.
October 6, 2008
Credit Sourcebooks Jabberwocky with knowing a good thing when they see it. When Poetry Speaks to Children came out it was a brilliant collection of poems for kids with an accompanying CD of poets, both alive and deceased, reading their poetry straight out. And in this day and age if you put out a book of poems for kids then it shouldn’t be that much more difficult to put out a book of hip hop and rap as well. Or, as the new collection Hip Hop Speaks to Children calls it, “poetry with a beat.” Collected by the eminently skilled and knowledgeable Nikki Giovanni (activist, poet, multi-award winner, etc.) the book establishes a rock solid connection for kids between the rhythms they hear on their radios and MP3 players and the poetry they encounter in books. Drawing upon both history and contemporary stars (and with an accompanying CD to boot), Giovanni’s collection is the best book of its kind for a younger readership/listenership at this time.
In the introduction to this book “Stories in Rhythm”, Nikki Giovanni writes, “Thirty years ago, kids invented a new sound. They took old music, added their own new poetry, and found a way to have their creative voices heard. The Hip Hop Nation was born, sharing a courageous story of their hopes and promise with the world. And is the world evermore glad.” Right from the start Nikki Giovanni is looking parents, librarians, teachers, and other skeptical adults in the eye and saying that this is important. This matters. This is art. The introduction sweeps through the African and African-American history that led to contemporary Hip Hop. Everything from caps to the Harlem Renaissance to hamboning. Contemporary rap videos with their gold chains and loose ladies? Forget ‘em. That’s not the real stuff. The raps found in this book have history, humor, and a delicious awareness of the feel of a word. 51 poems/speeches/raps find their way into this collection with an accompanying CD of some of the hip hop, and an in-depth series of small biographies of all the performers.
Watch someone page through the book and make note of their little reactions. How they offer a little “Hmft!” of surprise when they hit the Kanye West selection (a pity THAT’s not on the CD). If they’re a librarian they might coo to finally get to hear Calef Brown (an author/illustrator of whom I’m particularly fond) laying down a track to “Funky Snowman”. And certainly kids of my generation will do a double take when they get to the selection from “Rapper’s Delight”. Plucking out "selections" is how the book gets around a lot of the lines in some songs that might be seen as not entirely kid-friendly. But I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s gonna object to “i dont mean to brag i dont mean to boast / but we like hot butter on our breakfast toast.” The beauty of the selection is how it works in contemporary names with historical ones. You might turn the page and find yourself getting down to a little Mos Def right before dwelling on some Langston Hughes. It’s not just hip hop artists or poets of the past either. There are people like contemporary poet and children’s author Charles R. Smith whole tackles his own poem “Allow Me to Introduce Myself” on the CD. And I was relieved to find that Ms. Giovanni includes a couple of her own near the end as well.
The selections in here are great too. I’ve heard artist Ashley Bryan do Eloise Greenfield’s “Things” and it’s a poem that rings resoundingly in the ear. A great way to begin any collection, I can tell you. Then to follow it directly up with Jacqueline Woodson’s “Hip Hop Rules the World”, a poem that links the beat with the fact that it really IS poetry, that’s keen. Really, the pairings here can be inspired. Who else would think to put Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” alongside Claude McKay’s “If We Must Die”. Both discuss our mortality, one as a disregard for life and one as a full-throttle objection against death. No one has come up with a truly great Harlem Renaissance compendium for children yet, but if they did they might want to take a page out of Hip Hope Speaks to Children so as to determine which selections to choose.
The selected performers are ideal and really there was only one gap that I could see. I was a little surprised not to see any poems or raps by Sonia Sanchez in this book, truth be told. Hip Hop certainly owes as much to Ms. Sanchez’s raw energy and eclectic beats as it does to any Young MC or Tribe Called Quest. Particularly when you take into account Ms. Giovanni’s history with Sanchez, it seems a funny omission in an otherwise encompassing collection. Other missing raps are fine by me. I half-wondered when picking this book up for the first time whether or not Will Smith’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand” would make the cut. Then I remembered the line about the girl in his car moving her hand slowly up his thigh and... riiiiight.
One of the highpoints of any Sourcebooks’ title is the accompanying CD. The audible element to the book is integral to the enjoyment. Literature can be an entirely visual experience but poetry, rhyme, and rhythm are best enjoyed when the ears get in on the action as well. The book will say what the track selection is for each poem featured on the disc, which is ideal for both teachers and kid readers alike.
I’ve discussed books by this company with other librarians in the past and we’ve all agreed that the only problem with Sourcebooks’ titles are the illustrations. They’re serviceable, no doubt. Get the job done, they do. But while the illustrators they got for this book are perfectly nice, they don’t match the text. You may be reading the sharpest minds and pens of the 20th and 20th century, but they are paired with pictures that are merely nice, not extraordinary. I don’t blame the artists necessarily because maybe this isn’t indicative of their best work. The problem is that it should be. For future publications I do hope the Sourcebooks put as much effort into the art as the poetry/raps. The pictures here are more reminiscent of an illustrated elementary school Reading textbook than a groundbreaking book for kids.
As rap and hip hop slowly gains acceptance into the school and reading curriculum (I don’t think it hurts matters any that the generations that grew up with it is now teaching our children) we need more books that kids can relate to. There are high school teachers sharing Tupac’s poems with the students, which is certainly a nice enough start. But I think that it will be books like these that make the most impact in schools and at home. This is a great collection, woven together by an expert, and crafted with the best possible accompanying CD. Purchase of this book isn’t optional. It’s obligatory. And I, for one, am looking forward to more.
Ages 6 and up.
In the introduction to this book “Stories in Rhythm”, Nikki Giovanni writes, “Thirty years ago, kids invented a new sound. They took old music, added their own new poetry, and found a way to have their creative voices heard. The Hip Hop Nation was born, sharing a courageous story of their hopes and promise with the world. And is the world evermore glad.” Right from the start Nikki Giovanni is looking parents, librarians, teachers, and other skeptical adults in the eye and saying that this is important. This matters. This is art. The introduction sweeps through the African and African-American history that led to contemporary Hip Hop. Everything from caps to the Harlem Renaissance to hamboning. Contemporary rap videos with their gold chains and loose ladies? Forget ‘em. That’s not the real stuff. The raps found in this book have history, humor, and a delicious awareness of the feel of a word. 51 poems/speeches/raps find their way into this collection with an accompanying CD of some of the hip hop, and an in-depth series of small biographies of all the performers.
Watch someone page through the book and make note of their little reactions. How they offer a little “Hmft!” of surprise when they hit the Kanye West selection (a pity THAT’s not on the CD). If they’re a librarian they might coo to finally get to hear Calef Brown (an author/illustrator of whom I’m particularly fond) laying down a track to “Funky Snowman”. And certainly kids of my generation will do a double take when they get to the selection from “Rapper’s Delight”. Plucking out "selections" is how the book gets around a lot of the lines in some songs that might be seen as not entirely kid-friendly. But I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s gonna object to “i dont mean to brag i dont mean to boast / but we like hot butter on our breakfast toast.” The beauty of the selection is how it works in contemporary names with historical ones. You might turn the page and find yourself getting down to a little Mos Def right before dwelling on some Langston Hughes. It’s not just hip hop artists or poets of the past either. There are people like contemporary poet and children’s author Charles R. Smith whole tackles his own poem “Allow Me to Introduce Myself” on the CD. And I was relieved to find that Ms. Giovanni includes a couple of her own near the end as well.
The selections in here are great too. I’ve heard artist Ashley Bryan do Eloise Greenfield’s “Things” and it’s a poem that rings resoundingly in the ear. A great way to begin any collection, I can tell you. Then to follow it directly up with Jacqueline Woodson’s “Hip Hop Rules the World”, a poem that links the beat with the fact that it really IS poetry, that’s keen. Really, the pairings here can be inspired. Who else would think to put Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” alongside Claude McKay’s “If We Must Die”. Both discuss our mortality, one as a disregard for life and one as a full-throttle objection against death. No one has come up with a truly great Harlem Renaissance compendium for children yet, but if they did they might want to take a page out of Hip Hope Speaks to Children so as to determine which selections to choose.
The selected performers are ideal and really there was only one gap that I could see. I was a little surprised not to see any poems or raps by Sonia Sanchez in this book, truth be told. Hip Hop certainly owes as much to Ms. Sanchez’s raw energy and eclectic beats as it does to any Young MC or Tribe Called Quest. Particularly when you take into account Ms. Giovanni’s history with Sanchez, it seems a funny omission in an otherwise encompassing collection. Other missing raps are fine by me. I half-wondered when picking this book up for the first time whether or not Will Smith’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand” would make the cut. Then I remembered the line about the girl in his car moving her hand slowly up his thigh and... riiiiight.
One of the highpoints of any Sourcebooks’ title is the accompanying CD. The audible element to the book is integral to the enjoyment. Literature can be an entirely visual experience but poetry, rhyme, and rhythm are best enjoyed when the ears get in on the action as well. The book will say what the track selection is for each poem featured on the disc, which is ideal for both teachers and kid readers alike.
I’ve discussed books by this company with other librarians in the past and we’ve all agreed that the only problem with Sourcebooks’ titles are the illustrations. They’re serviceable, no doubt. Get the job done, they do. But while the illustrators they got for this book are perfectly nice, they don’t match the text. You may be reading the sharpest minds and pens of the 20th and 20th century, but they are paired with pictures that are merely nice, not extraordinary. I don’t blame the artists necessarily because maybe this isn’t indicative of their best work. The problem is that it should be. For future publications I do hope the Sourcebooks put as much effort into the art as the poetry/raps. The pictures here are more reminiscent of an illustrated elementary school Reading textbook than a groundbreaking book for kids.
As rap and hip hop slowly gains acceptance into the school and reading curriculum (I don’t think it hurts matters any that the generations that grew up with it is now teaching our children) we need more books that kids can relate to. There are high school teachers sharing Tupac’s poems with the students, which is certainly a nice enough start. But I think that it will be books like these that make the most impact in schools and at home. This is a great collection, woven together by an expert, and crafted with the best possible accompanying CD. Purchase of this book isn’t optional. It’s obligatory. And I, for one, am looking forward to more.
Ages 6 and up.
February 27, 2018
It’s so easy to get immersed in this New York Times bestseller by one of the most prevalent African American female authors around. Award winning author, Nikki Giovanni celebrates hip hop and poetry by inviting the participation of many great artists to collaborate and contribute to this wonderful collection. This book is a page turner, as so many emotions are invoked when reading through each piece. Ms. Giovanni creates an impressive mixture of history and creativity by inviting popular artists to contribute their works as well as incorporating historical classics. I love that this book exposes children to the many aspects of poetry. If you are looking for a work of art to expose children to the diversity and magic of poetry this is certainly a book to share.
The book, filled with over 50 poems, takes children on a rhythmic excursion and allows them to experience and discover the heart and passion of many great poets. A cool aspect about this work is the accompanying CD. Not only can the reader experience the poetry by reading it themselves, but selected works can be played aloud. The CD makes the book a fun and interactive experience for children. Also the illustrations are a great addition to this work. This is certainly a great book to add to your classroom or home bookshelf. This book can be read from beginning to end, or a few choice selections can be read. I attached a link of Ms. Giovanni discussing this work. It's a fun little clip, hopefully it will inspire you to go grab the book. Five stars for this one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TPdL...
The book, filled with over 50 poems, takes children on a rhythmic excursion and allows them to experience and discover the heart and passion of many great poets. A cool aspect about this work is the accompanying CD. Not only can the reader experience the poetry by reading it themselves, but selected works can be played aloud. The CD makes the book a fun and interactive experience for children. Also the illustrations are a great addition to this work. This is certainly a great book to add to your classroom or home bookshelf. This book can be read from beginning to end, or a few choice selections can be read. I attached a link of Ms. Giovanni discussing this work. It's a fun little clip, hopefully it will inspire you to go grab the book. Five stars for this one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TPdL...
October 17, 2018
Summary: Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a collection of poems which deal with a wide range of topics. Many of these topics include diversity, inclusion and acceptance, poverty, love, and family. Each poem comes with a celebrity guest reader in an effort to engage the student by the incorporation of voice inflection and emotion through reading.
Personal Reflection: I like how diverse this book is. It offers dozens of topics that all children can identify with. From love, schoolwork, to inner city life, bullying, and acceptance; this book offers many poems that could engage the reader at any level and on any topic. I think this would be a great poetry lesson to include all types of children and for them to understand and identify with each other.
Illustrations: The illustrations, created by Kristen Baluch et. al depict the topic for each poem. Since there are so many illustrators, they put their own ideas into the illustrations. They develop a certain style which brings the style of writing to life by making hands bigger than the person to show emphasis on an action or emotion like in the poem, "Rosa Parks." They use different shades of colors to depict a certain mood when talking about a dream, in which they choose a dark background with a small shade of light, like in the poem "Love Poem for my People."
Classroom Connections: For the poem called, "Rosa Parks" a lesson which could be used in the classroom would be for American History after the Civil War. It would be a good introduction to civil rights leaders and be a focal point in February for African American History Month. Students would research civil rights leaders in American History and share them with the class after being introduced to Rosa Parks in the poem. Another classroom connection would be to connect the poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers to a science lesson on the Water Cycle. This could be done by creating a picture or diagram which shows the water cycle and different stages and which each stage means as water is transformed into a gas, liquid, or solid.
Personal Reflection: I like how diverse this book is. It offers dozens of topics that all children can identify with. From love, schoolwork, to inner city life, bullying, and acceptance; this book offers many poems that could engage the reader at any level and on any topic. I think this would be a great poetry lesson to include all types of children and for them to understand and identify with each other.
Illustrations: The illustrations, created by Kristen Baluch et. al depict the topic for each poem. Since there are so many illustrators, they put their own ideas into the illustrations. They develop a certain style which brings the style of writing to life by making hands bigger than the person to show emphasis on an action or emotion like in the poem, "Rosa Parks." They use different shades of colors to depict a certain mood when talking about a dream, in which they choose a dark background with a small shade of light, like in the poem "Love Poem for my People."
Classroom Connections: For the poem called, "Rosa Parks" a lesson which could be used in the classroom would be for American History after the Civil War. It would be a good introduction to civil rights leaders and be a focal point in February for African American History Month. Students would research civil rights leaders in American History and share them with the class after being introduced to Rosa Parks in the poem. Another classroom connection would be to connect the poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers to a science lesson on the Water Cycle. This could be done by creating a picture or diagram which shows the water cycle and different stages and which each stage means as water is transformed into a gas, liquid, or solid.
December 3, 2018
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is an amazing poetry book including many popular kid friendly raps. The authors included in this book include up to date people that many can relate to. This book includes poems that are short, fun, and engaging especially for those who love hip-hop.
I believe this book would be best suited for anyone who enjoys music. If I were to teach with this book I would use it for students in kindergarten-fifth grade. I believe this book would be a great way to incorporate poetry on a daily basis. Providing the students exposure to poetry can help students realize that poetry is all around us and in our world and there are many different types of poetry. If I were teaching with this book, I would provide my students the time to alter one of these raps and create their own.
This was definitely a WOW book for me because it enlightened me to another form of poetry I can share with my avid music lovers. I know this book will keep a large majority of students actively engaged and interested in hearing more. I believe this story will inspire elementary aged students to create their own poetry pieces. I believe that all ages could enjoy learning and being exposed to poetry that they could relate to but I believe that upper grades 3-5 would be better to use this book with instructionally. If I were to use this book instructionally, I would allow my students to present a poem from this story with a group of peers or create their own rap. I was extremely pleased with this book because it includes beautifully written poetry as well as colorful and eye-catching illustrations.
I believe this book would be best suited for anyone who enjoys music. If I were to teach with this book I would use it for students in kindergarten-fifth grade. I believe this book would be a great way to incorporate poetry on a daily basis. Providing the students exposure to poetry can help students realize that poetry is all around us and in our world and there are many different types of poetry. If I were teaching with this book, I would provide my students the time to alter one of these raps and create their own.
This was definitely a WOW book for me because it enlightened me to another form of poetry I can share with my avid music lovers. I know this book will keep a large majority of students actively engaged and interested in hearing more. I believe this story will inspire elementary aged students to create their own poetry pieces. I believe that all ages could enjoy learning and being exposed to poetry that they could relate to but I believe that upper grades 3-5 would be better to use this book with instructionally. If I were to use this book instructionally, I would allow my students to present a poem from this story with a group of peers or create their own rap. I was extremely pleased with this book because it includes beautifully written poetry as well as colorful and eye-catching illustrations.
February 27, 2018
From the turn of the first page, I was captivated with the poems that explode with flaming thoughts, glowing visuals, and bursts of audio (Yes, there is a CD!). It is a thoughtful and significant collection of poetry gathered by Nikki Giovanni. The book provides a celebration of diversity with honest and sincere language that is relevant to children regardless of race or ethnicity. The addition of the CD allows a brief explanation of each poem before it is read by, in some cases, the authors themselves or the musicians singing the lyrics. As a future teacher, I am excited that students who struggle with reading can enjoy these prolific poems by listening to the CD independently, allowing the chance later to participate in a meaningful discussion without having to struggle through the reading.
I highly recommend this book to fourth through sixth graders for both enjoyment and for academic reference. These poems send a profound message of self-love and self-motivation transferring a positive message to all youth. They are also an awesome tool to discuss social injustice. Social justice is a common theme throughout the book and these poems can easily be integrated into a social studies lesson, or used as a resource when there is conflict in the classroom. Many of the poems remind me of heart felt lyrics written from the perspective of believable authors that lived the experiences. Enjoy this book and use the selections to build a community of acceptance!
I highly recommend this book to fourth through sixth graders for both enjoyment and for academic reference. These poems send a profound message of self-love and self-motivation transferring a positive message to all youth. They are also an awesome tool to discuss social injustice. Social justice is a common theme throughout the book and these poems can easily be integrated into a social studies lesson, or used as a resource when there is conflict in the classroom. Many of the poems remind me of heart felt lyrics written from the perspective of believable authors that lived the experiences. Enjoy this book and use the selections to build a community of acceptance!
July 14, 2018
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat by Nikki Giovanni is a beautiful anthology of poems written for children seven years of age and older. It highlights the use of rhythm and vernacular in hip-hop, rap, and African-American poetry. The book is comprised of poems or raps from a variety of African American artists such as Langston Hughes, Kanye West, Eloise Greenfield and Queen Latifah. The main topics are hope, self-esteem, respect for the past, and determination to make a better future. Music and rhythm have been used as tools for learning for ages because when words are put to a beat they are easier to remember. This is why I really enjoyed this anthology and it received such a high rating. I'm all for children learning essential life lessons like the ones mentioned above in a way that makes learning fun. While reading each poem you get into a groove, a rhythm, that you don't want to stop. It keeps the learning aspect, fresh and crisp making you want more until you've reached the last poem. Using this collection to introduce children to the world of poetry and literature is nothing short of a spectacular idea. What better way to encourage learning and a love for reading than through fun?
December 10, 2018
1. This book won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work-Poetry
2. This book is appropriate for Second Grade and higher.
3. Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat by Nikki Giovanni is a collection of poems with an accompanying CD from hip-hop artists and poets such as Queen Latifah, Langston Hughes, A Tribe Called Quest, and even Kanye West. The poems celebrate freedom and the urban infrastructure of the art form of hip-hop. Hit songs like Rapper's Delight and Ego Trippin are present in this book, which exposes young readers to this beautiful art form.
4. I want to start off by saying my review is inherently biased due to me being a huge hip-hop fan. Hip-hop music has always had a negative stigma for educational purposes, but I believe that African-American artists of this genre need to be represented. This book packages an educationally friendly collection of songs that children should be exposed to.
5. I would use this book in class in a variety of ways. I would have my students do a symbolism exercise in which they unpack certain motifs and themes in these poems/songs. I would also do a listening exercise in which children listen to these songs and have them attempt to make their own hip-hop song.
2. This book is appropriate for Second Grade and higher.
3. Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat by Nikki Giovanni is a collection of poems with an accompanying CD from hip-hop artists and poets such as Queen Latifah, Langston Hughes, A Tribe Called Quest, and even Kanye West. The poems celebrate freedom and the urban infrastructure of the art form of hip-hop. Hit songs like Rapper's Delight and Ego Trippin are present in this book, which exposes young readers to this beautiful art form.
4. I want to start off by saying my review is inherently biased due to me being a huge hip-hop fan. Hip-hop music has always had a negative stigma for educational purposes, but I believe that African-American artists of this genre need to be represented. This book packages an educationally friendly collection of songs that children should be exposed to.
5. I would use this book in class in a variety of ways. I would have my students do a symbolism exercise in which they unpack certain motifs and themes in these poems/songs. I would also do a listening exercise in which children listen to these songs and have them attempt to make their own hip-hop song.
April 22, 2018
Copyright- 2008
Number of Pages-72
Book format-hardcover
Reading Level-3 and older GR Level- N/A
Genre- Fiction
Lit. Requirement- Poetry- Anthology
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a collection of poems about African American cultures. Some are about the history of African Americans, slavery, or music. All of the poems are by famous African American poets such as Langston Hughes or Maya Angelou and even famous singers and musicians such as, Kanye West, Queen Latifah, Tupac and many more. The poems are edited by Nikki Giovanni and her illustrations capture each poem's message so well. It was a brilliant collection of poems showing struggles of African Americans and triumphs. The last few pages were parts of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. This book did not have a specific grade level but I could see it being for a wide range of children. Some of the poems are simple and rhyme, and others are longer and take more time to understand. It comes with an audio CD which can help readers understand it more by listening to it, or help them if it is harder for them to read. I really enjoyed this collection of poems and I would recommend it.
Number of Pages-72
Book format-hardcover
Reading Level-3 and older GR Level- N/A
Genre- Fiction
Lit. Requirement- Poetry- Anthology
Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a collection of poems about African American cultures. Some are about the history of African Americans, slavery, or music. All of the poems are by famous African American poets such as Langston Hughes or Maya Angelou and even famous singers and musicians such as, Kanye West, Queen Latifah, Tupac and many more. The poems are edited by Nikki Giovanni and her illustrations capture each poem's message so well. It was a brilliant collection of poems showing struggles of African Americans and triumphs. The last few pages were parts of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. This book did not have a specific grade level but I could see it being for a wide range of children. Some of the poems are simple and rhyme, and others are longer and take more time to understand. It comes with an audio CD which can help readers understand it more by listening to it, or help them if it is harder for them to read. I really enjoyed this collection of poems and I would recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 26, 20192. Hip Hop Speaks to Children provides a lengthy history of stories told in rhythm from opera to blues to hip hop. A wide range of styles, eras and poets, with several dozen performances or readings on the accompanying cd, some by the poets themselves.
3. The theme of this book emphasizing stories of resistance and creativity during enslavement that led young people to invent their own sound in the absence of school bands and arts programs.
4. This was definitely a WOW book for me because it enlightened me to another form of poetry. I like how diverse this book is. It offers dozens of topics that all children can identify with. From love, schoolwork, to inner-city life, bullying, and acceptance; this book offers many poems that could engage the reader at any level and on any topic.
5. I believe that all ages could enjoy learning and be exposed to poetry that they could relate to but I believe that upper grades 3-5 would be better to use this book with instructional. If I were to use this book instructional, I would allow my students to present a poem from this story with a group of peers or create their own rap.
3. The theme of this book emphasizing stories of resistance and creativity during enslavement that led young people to invent their own sound in the absence of school bands and arts programs.
4. This was definitely a WOW book for me because it enlightened me to another form of poetry. I like how diverse this book is. It offers dozens of topics that all children can identify with. From love, schoolwork, to inner-city life, bullying, and acceptance; this book offers many poems that could engage the reader at any level and on any topic.
5. I believe that all ages could enjoy learning and be exposed to poetry that they could relate to but I believe that upper grades 3-5 would be better to use this book with instructional. If I were to use this book instructional, I would allow my students to present a poem from this story with a group of peers or create their own rap.
September 27, 2017
Hip Hop Speaks to Children a poetry collection edited by Nikki Giovanni that collects poems “with a beat” from many different poets and topics, including many famous African American poets, musicians, and celebrities including Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Jacqueline Woodson, Tupac Shakur, Kanye West, Mos Def, and many others. Poem topics range from familiar scenes of school age children to poems of African American life and history in the U.S. An audio CD is included with the book to listen to some of the poems and songs The illustrations are of varying styles by various illustrators from cartoonish to more realistic to heavily stylized the illustrations are influenced by the theme and emotions each separate poem is meant to convey. However what they all have in common is colorful, action filled scenes that will draw in the attention of its young readers. This book is excellent for middle and upper elementary students who would appreciate the familiar topics, variety of poetry, and colorful illustrations.
February 27, 2018
Hip-hop is poetry too.
This is one amazing book. I never thought that I was interested in poetry. However, Giovanni shows, through her book, that hip-hop is poetry too. This book is comprised of rhymes and rhythm, in which children, especially in the urban area, may find interesting and appealing.
There are great musical artists that worked with Giovanni in this book, such as Common and Lauren Hill. There are also poets that collaborated in this book as well. Not all hip-hop is bad and in this hip-hop (clean version) book, it takes poetry and puts it with a beat. Thus, hip-hop has evolved.
The poetry in this book is displayed through colorful illustrations. The background on every page is bright and covers the entire page. Whether you read it or rap it, this is a great way to incorporate poetry into the classroom. Classic hip-hop songs are scaled down and cleaned up to give a small portion of the songs poetic vibe. Best of all, there is a cd that comes with the book.
This is one amazing book. I never thought that I was interested in poetry. However, Giovanni shows, through her book, that hip-hop is poetry too. This book is comprised of rhymes and rhythm, in which children, especially in the urban area, may find interesting and appealing.
There are great musical artists that worked with Giovanni in this book, such as Common and Lauren Hill. There are also poets that collaborated in this book as well. Not all hip-hop is bad and in this hip-hop (clean version) book, it takes poetry and puts it with a beat. Thus, hip-hop has evolved.
The poetry in this book is displayed through colorful illustrations. The background on every page is bright and covers the entire page. Whether you read it or rap it, this is a great way to incorporate poetry into the classroom. Classic hip-hop songs are scaled down and cleaned up to give a small portion of the songs poetic vibe. Best of all, there is a cd that comes with the book.
April 2, 2019
This poetry book for children is really wonderful. It has great rhyming and free verse poems, as well as engaging and beautiful illustrations.
This books comes with a CD, so students can pair lyrics and music. This would be an excellent resource for k-5 classrooms, especially for the listening center. Students can hear the rhythm of the poetry while they listen to the CD.
But even without the CD, the book itself is amazing. Employing vernacular and personal experiences, this book is a great hook for a poetry unit, as students will find it relatable and familiar (many of the poets are famous artists / rappers/ writers that students will be familiar with).
This book could be used in a k-5 classroom. It would be great in the listening station for students to read along with the accompanying CD. This book could also be read aloud as part of a poetry unit. For older students, it would be a great component to a genre study on poetry, as the styles of poems in this book will likely be quite different from more traditional poems students may be used to.
This books comes with a CD, so students can pair lyrics and music. This would be an excellent resource for k-5 classrooms, especially for the listening center. Students can hear the rhythm of the poetry while they listen to the CD.
But even without the CD, the book itself is amazing. Employing vernacular and personal experiences, this book is a great hook for a poetry unit, as students will find it relatable and familiar (many of the poets are famous artists / rappers/ writers that students will be familiar with).
This book could be used in a k-5 classroom. It would be great in the listening station for students to read along with the accompanying CD. This book could also be read aloud as part of a poetry unit. For older students, it would be a great component to a genre study on poetry, as the styles of poems in this book will likely be quite different from more traditional poems students may be used to.
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