  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 01/01/2010 This “phat” collaboration applies the best qualities of hip hop to a “doggy allegory” celebrating self-esteem. Born one mutt out of many, a canine rapper is “the saddest and the baddest” in town. He feels unwanted and unloved until he discovers music and begins to “bark it like Brünhilda.” Finding positive empowerment in his talent, he uses words to “mark my territory, / Turning heads on all the breeders; / When I make it auditory, / If there’s a pack, then I’m the leader.” Soon he’s “the coolest, go to school-est” pup around. This is great for reading aloud, particularly with kids who love hip hop and those who may experience similar feelings of insecurity. The well-matched mixed-media illustrations show lively urban scenes, with the star of the show in a black baseball cap turned backward (is that angle OK in your neighborhood?) spinning and dancing around with other pooches and people, all against colorful backgrounds. Kids will want to chant along to the text, which slides and swirls across the pages with a contagious beat. - Copyright 2010 Booklist. School Library Journal - 03/01/2010 PreS-Gr 3— Raschka's and Radunsky's simpatico styles are at long last paired in this "doggy allegory" told in a hip-hop beat. Born into a litter of 16, the scruffy protagonist is the pup not chosen—the "saddest and the baddest." His solitude, however, facilitates his sensitivity to the sounds that permeate his urban environment, and while the "clatter makes him gladder," ultimately it's the strains of opera that motivate him to "bark it like Brunhilda." Raschka's musicality undergirds his street-savvy lingo, making the narrative fresh and lyrical. The font becomes bigger and bolder to indicate emphasis, a technique that is particularly helpful when the text spirals around the pages. "I'm the zoom -est and the boom -est, spread no gloom -est, say no doom -est. I'm the top -est, never stop -est, Boston Pop -est, be be bop -est. I jazz le dazz le like it as the Hip Hop Dog ." Radunsky's caricatures of the moves of a canine version of Snoop Dogg manage to be convincing, poignant, and funny—no small feat. Loose lines, brushwork that allows the textured background to show through, and occasional bits of collage combine to create a gritty cityscape peopled with quirky personalities. This story of a neglected orphan who sings and struts his way to happiness will gladden the hearts of readers young and old.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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