Big Momma is large, round, and as unperturbed as the cloud on which she sits; as powerful as her quintessential mother love for "that little baby sitting on her hip"; as creative as her male counterpart. The superb illustrations surprise the eye with their joyous variety. Among the many creation retellings and variations, this one takes the cake for most lovable, and for most benign deity, too--without sacrificing an iota of authority or reverence.

Gr 9 Up-Tracing the concept of human rights from the Magna Carta and John Locke's philosophy through to the present day, the author demonstrates through documents the development and interpretation of these rights in American history. A useful introduction defines primary-source documents and how to read them. Patrick then presents a brief overview of particular events and discusses the documents associated with them. He includes excerpts from the primary sources and a summary. Various period maps, cartoons, drawings, and court opinions are also included. Sidebars consisting of mini-biographies, quotes, and drawings provide added dimension. Readers get a true sense of the times, especially by perusing the court opinions. The issues of human rights, the civil rights amendments, the application of these rights in state constitutions, and the question of minority and majority rights are discussed. The chronological organization of the book provides students with an understanding of the evolution and the extent of the Bill of Rights. A chapter of political cartoons about the Second Amendment demonstrates how the interpretation of these rights is a continuing process. This attractive and informative volume will be a valuable resource for most collections. Lana Miles, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX