Representation that Radiates Joy

Simon B. Rhymin' (Simon B. Rhymin’, 1) I Dwayne Reed

Name: Simon B. Rhymin' (Simon B. Rhymin’, 1) I Dwayne Reed
Brand: Stories of a Colorful World
SKU: 9780275959883
Price: 15.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

$7.99 USD

Sale Sold out

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Quantity

Product variants

A humorous and heartwarming bounce-to-the-beat underdog story about a young rapper whose rhymes help bring his community together, from America's favorite rapping teacher.

As featured on Good Morning America!

Eleven-year-old Simon Barnes dreams of becoming a world-famous rapper that everyone calls Notorious D.O.G. But for now, he's just a Chicago fifth grader who's small for his age and afraid to use his voice.

Simon prefers to lay low at school and at home, even though he's constantly spitting rhymes in his head. But when his new teacher assigns the class an oral presentation on something that affects their community, Simon must face his fears.

With some help from an unexpected ally and his neighborhood crew, will Simon gain the confidence to rap his way to an A and prove that one kid can make a difference in his 'hood?

Dwayne Reed is a Chicago teacher, whose viral back-to-school music video "Welcome to the 4th Grade" took the internet by storm. His debut novel, Simon B. Rhymin', inspires young readers everywhere to use their voices to create change within their communities.

Builds Confidence and Self-Love with Every Page

We don’t just include diverse books — we center them. Every story we carry celebrates BIPOC voices and puts underrepresented protagonists front and center, ensuring every child can say, “That’s me.”

Authored by a BIPOC Creator — Real Representation, not Tokenism

We intentionally seek out BIPOC and indie creators whose stories deserve to shine — building shelves you won’t find anywhere else.

Vetted by Educators and Families for Quality and Age-Fit

Find the perfect book tailored to your child’s age, interests, and identity, making storytime meaningful and engaging.

Every child deserves to see themselves in the books they read.

You know that feeling when your kid sees themselves in a book and suddenly walks a little taller? That’s what we’re here for. Our curated collection is handpicked for one purpose: to help every child feel seen, celebrated, and inspired to dream big—no more endless scrolling or settling for stories that fall short. Here, every book is chosen to nurture confidence, empathy, and cultural pride.

Meet the Founder

Hi, children’s book lover! I’m Kanika.

As a classroom teacher, I’d spent countless afternoons searching for stories where my students could see themselves and came up empty-handed. I was tired of books that treated diversity like a checkbox, or worse, turned childhood joy into trauma. So, I did what teachers do best — I built what was missing.

My best friend and I began curating, partnering with independent authors and BIPOC creators to source high-quality stories that celebrated identity and belonging. We turned our living rooms into libraries and our mission into movement.

In 2019, Stories of a Colorful World launched with a simple promise: no more token shelves, no more exhausting searches — just stories that reflect every child’s worth.

Today, our collection spans 300+ titles by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color authors — books that build empathy, pride, and confidence one story at a time.

Curated for Every Stage
Our bookshop replaces overwhelm with ease: intentional, pre-vetted, and organized by what actually matters who your kids are becoming.
Building Empathy & Cultural Pride
Each book is selected to stretch empathy, self-awareness, and cultural pride at every age and stage.
Stories They’ll Return To
Our books are revisited again and again, with age-appropriate themes that build emotional intelligence, identity, and curiosity.