Hip Hop Speaks to Children

Giovanni, Nikki (ed). Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A celebration of poetry with a beat. Sourcebooks, 2008.

This book is a great way to get kids involved in poetry without ever thinking it's poetry. Nikki Giovanni has compiled numerous African-American poets, artists, and singers together in one spot to demonstrate the richness and rhythms of poetry and the African-American culture as well. The CD that is included with this book has poets reading their works (including Langston Hughes), children performing works, and even vocal artists like Queen Latifah performing. This is a culturally rich book with wonderful illustrations by a multitude of artists. It even includes the "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Overall, this is a good book to get children interested in finding poetry outside of the poetry books in the library. By demonstrating that speeches and songs can be considered poetry too, it forces children to see poetry in everyday life.

This book can include so many pre and post activities it's hard to know where to begin! I would introduce this book by having an older grade level (say grade 3) bring in a copy of the lyrics (and possibly the music) to their favorite school-appropriate song. I would then play "Long Track Blues" (written by Sterling A. Brown, performed by Josephine Cameron) from the CD. Having the students close their eyes and listen to the music and the words then discuss the imagery it evokes. I would then discuss the types of imagery the words and/or music their chosen songs evoke to them and perhaps take two or three and have the class listen to them and see if the songs bring to mind the same images as the original contributor.

Excerpt from "Long Track Blues" by Sterling A. Brown

Lanterns a-swingin',

An' a long freight leaves the yard;

Leaves me here, baby,

But my hear it rides the rod.

Sparks a flyin',

Wheels rublin' wid a mighty roar;

Then the red tail light,

And the place gets dark once more.