New book: Hip & Hop, Don't Stop! by Jef Czekaj

Found a new book today, and I was hooked as a read the first page...

How To Read This Book!
Whenever you see this rabbit rapping        
and the words are green, read as
fastfastfast as you can.
If this turtle is rapping
you see red words, read as
s l o o o o o o o o  o o o w ly   
as you can.


This page immediately had me wanting to play inside this book. I'm in I thought. I can't wait to read on. And I did. I met Hip, a turtle, and Hop, a bunny, who both love rhyme.  Hip writes slow ryhmes while Hop 's rhymes are quicker than lightning.  These rappers live on opposite ends of Oldskool County and  are instant friends when they meet on their way home from school as they notice a rapping contest posted on a tree.  The story is a new take on the fable the tortoise and the hare.  It also is a story of how an unlikely friendship brings together a forest of friends. It is a read aloud mixed with funny short raps,  comic like features and bright, colorful pictures.   Hip and Hop are winners at the end and I am hoping it is a winner in the classroom.