If
you like to write rap lyrics and could only pick one book to be
stranded on a desert island (or locked in a small institutional room)
with every night for a week, you would likely want to consider
Mitchell’s reference work as you make your careful selection. This
pocket-sized paperback was designed for writers on the go, weighing in
at a lightweight 180 pages. One of my favorite lines from the intro
reads “Words found offensive are … left out because there are only so
many trees we can slay to make this book...” The slim profile is part
of the appeal for the reluctant readers and would-be prolific writer of
rhymes. In addition to the simple-to-use format we couldn’t get enough
of in Scholastic’s now out-of-print rhyming dictionary,
Mitchell includes accessible and engaging front matter. These first
fifteen pages feature an intro, an explanation of how the book works,
five tips for writing, a brief history of rap, and a short bibliography
of recommended reading. Teachers of literacy, ELA and creative writing
will find this essential and many a Passages student has articulated a
desire not to return a borrowed copy to the library. Multiple copies
strongly recommended. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber Mitchell, Kevin M. Hip-Hop Rhyming Dictionary. Los Angeles: Firebrand Music, 2003.
We are the library team at Passages Academy, the New York City Department of Education school for incarcerated and detained youth. Our goal is to build a culture of literacy at our school in a variety of ways, including talking more about what we're reading and what we're teaching, and how students respond to these materials.
We sincerely appreciate the contributions of our guest bloggers—teachers and community partners who know our students and our libraries so well. Thanks, everyone!
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