Welcome to the Cypher

Welcome to the Cypher uses bright and bold illustrations to introduce kids to the power of rap music. The narrator uses rap to show the children in his community how a simple phrase can change perspective and help boost a person’s confidence. Rap is portrayed as more than just an art form; it is a way to express opinion, a way for a community to come together, to entice justice, and to “break open the silence.”

Dill draws attention to the importance that rap has in troubled neighborhoods; however, the illustrations depict kids of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. They are portrayed using different instruments and, most importantly, supporting one another. Rap as a platform for social justice and conveying an opinion is expressed when the narrator says, “[F]eel its bass booming right down to your feet, and embrace the true meaning of freedom of speech.”

The “cypher” is a safe place for kids to express themselves through music. They are encouraged to gain the confidence to not only sing in front of others but also to share their opinions and let their own voice be heard using “finger snaps and fist bumps and claps”. For Dill, rap is meant to be felt through rhythms and the flow of words that represent the artist in their own way.

Dill has created a wonderful story that shines a light on an art form that is rarely represented in literature, particularly in children’s literature. The rhyming syntax makes Welcome to the Cypher a great book to read aloud and for readers to interact with. This wonderful and fun story encourages kids to be themselves and to support one another to speak up for what they believe in. This book is recommended for school-aged children and would be perfect to be read aloud in the classroom and shared with friends and family.