Neon Aliens Ate My Homework: And Other Poems

Hip-hop artist and music producer Cannon presents a well-rounded collection of 61 poems that includes homages to Shel Silverstein (“When I was a kid, A Light in the Attic was the first book that I read on my own,” Cannon writes in his introduction) and rappers who inspired Cannon in his youth (“The girls were Salt N Pepa while the boys were Beastie/ After recess we cooled down, cold chillin’ with Ice Cube and Ice-T”), as well as poems about bodily humor, inner-city life, family, growing up, and more. Illustrations from street artists blend psychedelic cartoons, eight-bit video-game imagery, and florid graffiti-style lettering to give the collection a modern feel. Cannon’s merging of rap and poetry may hit a sweet spot for kids who like to read with their earbuds in place. Ages 7–10. Agent: D. Christopher Jennings and Robert Caruso, Impact Republic; Ncredible Entertainment. (Feb.)