MC TURTLE AND THE HIP HOP HARE

Bibliography
Vozar, David .1995. M.C. TURTLE AND THE HIP HOP HARE. by Betsy Lewin Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. New York, New York. ISBN 0329054104

Plot Summary
In this rap version of the traditional story the THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE readers get sucked into the rhyming rap that David Vozar created. The illustrations are hilarious! Betsy Lewin captured the stereotype of rappers and the “gangsta” look. Backward hats, triple earrings, and even break hip hop dancing can be found throughout the pictures in this book. I think that older children will probably enjoy this story more because of the more grown up illustrations and humor. The illustrations are very cartoon style with lots of details on every page.

Critical Analysis
This contemporary version of THE HARE AND THE TORTOSIE still has the same lesson as the original story. The story is energetic even in the text . A reader cannot read the story line without rapping.
The illustrations are detailed and full of vibrant colors. They seem to be made with paint of some sort, maybe watercolors. The illustrator then went back and added detailed black lines. The illustrations [paired with the rap make this book a very funny read aloud for older children.

Review Excerpt(s)
Booklist: “Vozar’s story is bouncy fun that plays with both words and rhymes”
School Library Journal: “The cartoon-style illustrations combine close-ups, multiple images, and crowd scenes. This makes the visual presentation as energetic as the text”

Connections
*This book is great for teaching for comparing versions of THE TORTISE AND THE HARE.
*This book could be used to talk about not thinking you are good enough to do something you really want to do.
Sykes, Julie. THAT’S NOT FAIR, HARE! ISBN 0764153471
Aesop. THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. ISBN 0893754684