Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 12/16/2024 Mother-son collaborators the Weatherfords (Kin) present a lyrical ode to hip-hop music through a young protagonist who offers readers an invitation: "You can learn to rap from me." Via freestyle-feeling rhymes, the narrator outlines needed supplies ("a pencil and some paper./ Cop a notebook, too, ’cause you’re gonna need it later") and discusses how to write "what you care about" ("Shout out your hopes and heroes. Boast and don’t be shy./ Write what matters most to you./ Keep it fresh and fly"). Martinez, making a picture book debut, follows the protagonist from toddlerhood to childhood in bold illustrations that get at hip-hop’s vital energy. One spread showcases a tree growing with words in the branches, accompanied by the empowering lines, "As you write, remember that rap is poetry./ With rhythm, rhyme, and flow, your words can grow a tree." It’s a rhythmic text that offers craft advice ("metaphors, alliteration, idioms, similes,/ personification, puns, slammin’ soliloquies") alongside a fervent promise of creative fulfillment ("In the hip-hop zone,/ your words can set you free!"). Characters are portrayed with brown skin. An author’s note and glossary conclude. Ages 4-8. (Mar.) - Copyright 2024

School Library Journal - 02/01/2025 PreS-Gr 3—A young African American boy who was "born holding a mic, pad, and pen" guides readers through how to write their own raps. First, grab supplies, a pencil and paper, or a notebook. Next, figure out what to write about. They could write about what they care about, what motivates them, or even where they're from. In their raps, they don't have to be shy and can boast as much as they want. To take their raps to the next level, they can incorporate literary devices like figurative language, simile, and onomatopoeia. They can choose which rhyme scheme or rhythm they like best. Raps are a dynamic art form that they can craft in whatever they see fit. Rap It Up! encourages aspiring poets and rap artists to pick up their pens and write. The picture book guides readers through a step-by-step process to writing raps or any other creative pursuit. Through the medium of hip-hop and rap, readers are introduced to literary terms that will help buff up their bars and may even give them the confidence to speak their words out loud. The textured illustrations combine a multitude of artistic mediums that perfectly illustrate all that can be encompassed in a rap. Brown-skinned characters of varied skin tones and hair textures appear throughout. VERDICT This ode to hip-hop and rap is a perfect partnership between music and literature; a great purchase for your library's picture book collection.—Myiesha Speight - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2025 *Starred Review* This cheery picture book is a knockout, delightful on many levels. First, it celebrates the joy of creating, specifically writing and performing original rap pieces. It glorifies the wonders of language, defining writing elements (“use metaphors, alliteration, idioms, similes, / personification, puns, slammin’ soliloquies”) and offering tips about online dictionaries and potent word choices. Next, it lays out steps for success: start filling a notebook with ideas, fit the right number of syllables per line, practice and rehearse to make sure every word is perfect. The work features vivid, graffiti-filled collages by Martinez that effectively capture the kinetic beats of rhythmic lyrics and the energy of live performances. Most importantly, the text, which is addressed directly to the reader, offers endless encouragement. Anyone can learn to rap, and everyone has something to say and the right to spit it out loud and proud. The ultimate message—put in the work, because “The words you write are worth it”—comes through and will hopefully inspire aspiring rap artists. The book ends with a helpful glossary of literary terms and a heartfelt note from coauthor Jeffrey Boston Weatherford on the transformative power of teaching hip-hop. This is bound to be popular, and deservedly so. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.