This Book Will Teach Your Kids About Sound System Culture

Like lots of kids, I was a bookworm when I was little. I read books about practical princesses (thanks mum), hungry caterpillars, and tigers that came to tea, but I don't think I ever picked up a book that touched on music culture. It's surprising, really—music is so stitched into our experience of life, but it's rarely a children's book topic. The Sonar System, by author/actual reggae sound system MC Ras Mykha, is a breath of fresh air. Due on One Love Books—the same UK publishing house responsible for this brilliant book on Jamaican sound system culture in northern England—later this month, Mykha's beautifully illustrated story is set in a universe in which "the planets revolve around a gigantic speaker and the inhabitants spend their time building sound systems and listening to music." Now that's the kind of #lifegoals to set early. One Love Books will release The Sonar System on July 21st, but you can pre-order a copy now. Plus check out Let's Go Yorkshire's heritage project about sound system culture here.