This Hip-Hop ABC just goes to show how asinine, mammalian and plain stupidly childish current American slang is. It's quite a sociological message for a gimmicky gift book, in that it takes all the terms that dope muthas use when vibin' (or something) and shows how they grow new meanings when there's a toddler in the house – although lo and behold, those are the old meanings after all, and the fact is that it's the rap music that is annoyingly babyish. Who'dathunk?

Even though being a parent changes you for the better, it’s not uncommon to look back on one’s pre-kid days with nostalgia. As my kids are now well past the toddler stage, I find myself reflecting on days of long ago, back when I was a big hip-hop head and somewhat cool (at least in my head).

That’s why I found the board book O is for Old School by James Tyler so timely. Mr. Tyler takes common hip-hop phrases and applies them to parenthood in laugh out loud ways: C is for Crib - as in an actual place where babies sleep - and S is for Sucka…aka a pacifier. Ella Cohen’s bold illustrations fit perfectly and elicited smiles from ear to ear as I read each page with delight.

Great for ages 1-4.

Author: James Tyler

Illustrator: Ella Cohen

Publisher: Quatro Publishing Group/Wide Eyed Editions

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

O is for Old School is a bit of an odd little book, but fun nonetheless. This is one of those picture books that is really more for the grown up reading than for the kid.

Although the illustrations are not really my cup of tea, they're colourful and bright and will appeal to many children.

For utterly unhip geeks like me, the glossary at the back of the book was perhaps the best part.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions for providing me with a DRC of this book.

It is a really cute little book.... it is brightly illustrated with really cute, fun pictures. I also liked the 'glossary' at the end, further explaining terms/meanings of the 'hip' words! It'd be fun to read to/share with littles!
I received an e-ARC from Quarto Publishing Group-Wide Eyed Editions & NetGalley, in return for offering my own fair & honest review.