Think Again (Hip Kid Hop)

Rap and read along with today's freshest hip-hop arists--the poets of a new generation--as they impart positive, powerful life lessons. An original CD recording of the song is packaged with each book.

It's never easy being the new kid at school, especially if you're different from everyone else!
Legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh tells the story of two kids who dislike each other because of their differences. They soon discover they have more in common than they thought--and that color IS only skin deep.

The powerful messages of the text and the original, unforgettable songs will resonate with kids in a fun, hip, and educational way.

These two titles launch the HipKidHop series 7x7, paper-over-board books packaged with CD singles presenting messages worth rappin' about. The lyrics of each song form the text, which appears against a backdrop of full-bleed cartoon art. On the CDs, these popular performers sing their songs in mild, melodic rap, backed up by the appealing voices of youngsters. After completing the songs, each rapper urges listeners to sing the lyrics themselves, accompanied by the music and background sound effects. In the first title, a new kid in school, Zack, is "the talk of the class because he was black." Zack sits next to a cool white kid named John ("The school that they went to was mostly white,/ and because of their differences the vibe wasn't right"). While trying out for the basketball team, the two tussle and the coach keeps them after school. The slick artwork shows the boys writing on the blackboard the song's mantra ("Your worst enemy could be your best friend, so think again"); predictably, the two do become best friends. In the second book, "I never give up" is the refrain, as LL Cool J offers a lesson on the basketball court in how to be both a good winner and a good loser ("When you heard the winners cheering, you wished they understood,/ How hurt you felt when they felt so good"). Here, computer-aided artwork superimposes photos of the rapper's head on cartoon renditions of a player's body, which makes for some jarring juxtapositions. Although the lyrics may work better on the CDs than on the page, these wise morals bear repeating in print or in song. Ages 7-10. (Sept.)
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