When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop

I sat in the library one afternoon for about two hours looking at picture books.  Sometimes I find books I can use with my older students.  I also just love the use of language and the use of art found in so many of these books.  One book I came across was When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill.  Illustrations were by Theodore Taylor III.

This is a non-fiction picture book.  It would be great if teachers could do this in reading and music class.  I am not schooled on the background of Hip Hop, but this book is a great introduction.