Picture of author.

Laban Carrick Hill (1960–2021)

Author of Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

39 Works 1,943 Members 162 Reviews

About the Author

Laban Carrick Hill has been researching the Harlem Renaissance for more than a decade. The author of nearly twenty novels for young adults, he has also taught writing at Columbia University, Baruch College, and St. Michael's College in Vermont. His poems have been included in the Contemporary show more Poetry of New England anthology and in numerous literary magazines, including the Tar River Review, the Denver Quarterly, and American Letters and Commentary show less

Series

Works by Laban Carrick Hill

Spy Survival Handbook (2003) 38 copies
Half Pipe Rip-Off (2000) 24 copies

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Common Knowledge

Members

Reviews

stunning illustrations and an interesting poetic text tell some of the story of a potter who the large pots and hard and occasionally added his name and a line or two of poetry, despite being a slave. The illustrations are very worth a look.
 
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mslibrarynerd | 128 other reviews | Jan 13, 2024 |
This is a fun picture book biography about one of the first hip hop DJs. It shows how DJ Kool Herc grew up in Jamaica, moved to the Bronx, and found a way to make dance parties even more fun. DJ Kool Herc was more of a facilitator and less a musician, but he definitely made important contributions. He introduced a new way to spin records, making the breaks last longer for "break" dancers and he popularized something DJs in Jamaica were doing: "toasting" or chanting over the beat when they played records, which evolved into what we call rapping.

There's an author's note in the back with a timeline that will put Herc's story in context for young readers. I guess I do have one criticism, which is the author's examples of how popular hip hop has become:

"...no one could have imagined that a few desperately poor kids would reinvent American culture. Who could have imagined that a hip hop/jazz infusion group called The Roots would become the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon? Who could have imagined that rap would fuse with African High Life into an all-new musical form called Hip Life? Who could have imagined that a rapper would be invited to perform at the White House?"

Hip hop is insanely popular and the best examples the author could come up with are the house band on a late night TV show and a musical form I've never heard of? Come on! The White House example is excellent. The other two, not so much. He should have picked more meaningful examples, like how Jay-Z has had more number one albums than any other solo artist in U.S. history. Kids are not impressed by Jimmy Fallon or Hip Life (whatever that is).

… (more)
 
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LibrarianDest | 29 other reviews | Jan 3, 2024 |
Independent reading level: Grades 4-5
Awards: Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award
 
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acarrion0402 | 29 other reviews | Nov 7, 2023 |
This book is recommended for intermediate students. This book depicts David Drake and his pottery. In my future classroom, I would use this book to talk about the influence things like art can have in a persons life.
 
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Noahkunkel | 128 other reviews | Feb 27, 2023 |

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Associated Authors

Theodore Taylor Illustrator
Robert Rath Illustrator
Bryan Collier Illustrator
Bill Schmidt Illustrator

Statistics

Works
39
Members
1,943
Popularity
#13,243
Rating
4.1
Reviews
162
ISBNs
72
Languages
3

Charts & Graphs