Books Beats & Bars The Pura Belpré Song

R.H.Y.M.E x Bronx Arts Elementary x The Point CDC

For this edition of Books Beats & Bars, Bronx Arts Elementary scholars learned about the life of Pura Belpré, a Puerto Rican pioneer who helped to change the landscape of literacy in NYC in the 1920s. Scholars wrote bars inspired by the book “Planting Stories” The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré written by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Illustrated by Paola Escobar. Pura reminds us of how tremendously important it is for children to see themselves in the stories they read and write. As a Nuyorican whose grandparents migrated to NY in the 50s I am proud to carry on the rich tradition of  storytelling through literacy and lyric. This is R.H.Y.M.E Books Beats & Bars!

Lead teaching artist Randy Mason// Recording by La Bodega Recording Studio // Mix Master by Michael Correa AKA Hitz // Beat & Cover art by Rob Ayala // Video by Eric Mason.