Books with author Riordan James

Long, long ago, when the earth was new, the great river goddess Yemoya sent her daughter Aje to marry a handsome earth chief in the Land of Shining Day. At first Aje was happy, but soon she started to pine for the cool shadows of her mother's realm. So her husband asked Crocodile and Hippopotamus to bring Aje a sackful of Night. As they carried it back, the animals heard strange noises coming from the sack - and curiosity finally got the better of them...James Riordan's retelling of a Yoruba tale, vividly illustrated by Jenny Stow, gives an enchanting explanation of the coming of night to our world.

"In the 1950s, a new style of music called "rock and roll" blended the rhythm and blues (R & B) music played by black American artists with the sounds of traditional country and western music, gospel, folk music, and other genres. Since its creation, rock music has represented the spirit of young people, often reflecting them at their best: working to improve society, and also to have fun. ...rock music has evolved and changed, but remains as vibrant as ever." -- back cover.

The United States was founded, in part, on religious freedom--the idea that government should not be involved in the ways that people worship their deity or practice their religion. However, because historically most Americans belonged to Christian denominations, often religious symbols were incorporated into public buildings and government activities. In recent years, however, the legitimacy of these symbols has been challenged in the courts. The essays in this book examine major issues related to religious freedom today. The Contemporary Issues series gives young readers a better understanding of major social issues today. Each book examines four key questions related to a controversial topic, with chapters that detail the most commonly heard arguments on both sides of the discussion. The arguments contained within are supported by data from experts as well as nonpartisan reports, allowing the reader to make his or her own informed decision on the issue.