This Is Hip-Hop

Dr. Rekha S. Rajan (she/her) is a musical theater and operatic performer, early childhood educator, professor, and author of a number of publications on the arts in education. She is the recipient of several grants, including a two-year research grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, has performed in a variety of venues, including Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and sits on various statewide curriculum boards. Rekha specializes in introducing children to the arts. Her debut children’s book, AMAZING LANDMARKS (Scholastic, 2022), is a STEAM compendium of the stories behind how and why 10 iconic landmarks were built. Her parenting book THE READ ALOUD FACTOR (Chicago Review Press, 2022) will provide a modern, inclusive approach to establishing read-aloud routines for busy families, featuring diverse reading lists, using music, working around technology, and addressing multilingual dynamics. Rekha’s work consistently draws from her professional expertise as an educator and performer, her South Asian heritage, and her abiding love of music. Rekha sings everyday with her husband and three children and when she’s not writing, she is playing the djembe, mridangam, trumpet, ukulele, and piano. 

Chris Park has been a professional illustrator for over twelve years. Some of his previous clients include TBS, Team Coco, Rolling Stone, American Greetings Co., Cloudco Entertainment, Pro Publica, Sleeping Bear Press, Usborne Publishing, and Lightspeed Magazine. He coauthored and illustrated his debut picture book, Little Sock, with his wife Kia. Chris lives in Minnesota with his wife and two sons.