Eleven-year-old Simon Barnes dreams of becoming a world-famous rapper that everyone calls Notorious D.O.G. But for now, he's just a Chicago fifth grader who's small for his age and afraid to use his voice.
Simon prefers to lay low at school and at home, even though he's constantly spitting rhymes in his head. But when his new teacher assigns the class an oral presentation on something that affects their community, Simon must face his fears.
With some help from an unexpected ally and his neighborhood crew, will Simon gain the confidence to rap his way to an A and prove that one kid can make a difference in his 'hood?
Dwayne Reed is a Chicago teacher, whose viral back-to-school music video "Welcome to the 4th Grade" took the internet by storm. His debut novel, Simon B. Rhymin' , inspires young readers everywhere to use their voices to create change within their communities.
Perfect for!
★ Black boy joy
★ Rap, poetry, and music lovers
★ Community reads
★ Chicagoans
READ MORE ABOUT SIMON AND HIS CREW:
Simon B. Rhymin' Takes a Stand
Simon B. Rhymin' Gets in the Game
"This uplifting, realistic story of a young Black boy lyricist is a strong addition to any library collection."
--School Library Journal"Upbeat and heartfelt, Simon B. Rhymin' is a sure-fire hit!"--Lincoln Peirce, New York Times bestselling creator of Big Nate and Max & the Midknights
"Reed writes his characters with compassionate and keen insight, effectively conveying the transformative power of art, storytelling, and community."
--Publishers Weekly, starred