Included in Publishers Weekly's Big Indie Books of Fall 2017
feature
Morse and Yi (the team behind What Is Punk?) highlight hip-hop's
cultural hegemony via an impressively encyclopedic parade of rhyming
biographies. Yi's meticulously styled clay figures are as magical as in
the previous book, combining profound expressiveness with the
playfulness of action figures. Her compositions are equally evocative,
ranging from video snippets (the Beastie Boys strike a pose from
'Intergalactic') to formal portraits (Kanye West, Missy Elliott,
Kendrick Lamar) and metaphorical ones (Jay Z stands amid New York City
skyscrapers).
--Publishers Weekly
In rhythmic, rhyming verse, Morse offers a genealogy of hip-hop royalty
that begins with the Boogie Down Bronx's DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster
Flash and walks readers into today with Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Kendrick
Lamar. In between the origins and now, readers find a rare
gender-inclusive narrative of hip-hop history that uplifts B-girls like
Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott along with legendary male groups such as
NWA and Wu-Tang...The magnificent 3-D clay illustrations...include an
intricately produced remake of Tribe Called Quest's legendary 'Midnight
Marauders' cover. Tying these images back to their original sources
makes for quite the history lesson. Make sure to keep a device nearby. A
must-read reference for any hip-hop family.
--Kirkus Reviews
Verdict: these books are pretty damn cute.
--The Current (Minnesota Public Radio), What is Punk? and What is
Hip-Hop? are Rock and Roll Book Club selections
An ideal picture book for children ages 3 to 7, What Is Hip-Hop? is as
entertaining as it is informative and will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary
school, and community library collections.
--Midwest Book Review
Eric Morse is back with a follow-up that shines a similar PG spotlight
on the hip-hop arena and its players, from Run-DMC and Queen Latifah to
Salt-N-Pepa and Tupac. Artist Anny Yi returns, too, with delightful clay
figurines to accompany Morse's beat-astic rhyming verse.
--Tory Burch Daily Blog
Praise for What is Punk?
A punk primer for the youngest set. Yi's incredibly detailed clay
figures are a kinetic and inspired art choice. As [Morse] points out,
the best way to learn about punk is just to listen. If invested adults
love the topic, a shared reading experience can't be beat.
--Kirkus Reviews
What Is Punk? is a fun, sophisticated, and beautifully illustrated
introduction to the music genre for kids--or adults.
--New York Daily News
In the beginning, there was a beat... So begins What is Hip-Hop?--a
playful guided tour of one of the most revolutionary pop culture
movements of the twentieth century. Beginning with block parties in the
Bronx, What is Hip-Hop? brings the reader up to the present day, with
rhyming verses and engaging 3-D clay illustrations. It's a fun,
accessible, and informative read for B-boys and B-girls of all ages.
In the follow-up to their acclaimed and beloved hit What Is Punk?
author Eric Morse and artist Anny Yi reunite to celebrate the music that
changed their lives and the voices that achieved iconic status along the
way. See Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Salt-N-Pepa, Biggie and
Tupac, Eminem, and even Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar, as you've never
seen them!
