Crunk dances with his readers creating rhthyms that speak to the most sophisticated mind as well as the toughest heart. His themes of redemption, comprised salvation, and life crushed by experience are like delicious wine. Provocative reading.

It took me back to the days growing up in the south. What he saw, you saw. What he heard, you heard. It appears simplistic, but underneath, there are many layers. He is truly brilliant!

His poetry is better than his prose, but that is high praise indeed for this collection of poems and essays that are so meaningful they cause a tingling sensation every time I read them. I wait eagerly for another collection of Crunk's work to appear.

Big Mama is a wonderful story about a special grandmother who not only provides love and teaches responsibility to her orphaned grandson Billy, but to all his friends as well. The words of author Tony Crunk accompanied by the lovely illustrations by Margot Apple combine to tell the adventures of Big Mama and the group of racially and ethnically mixed children who share a common bond, friendship. Big Mama allows the children to use their imaginations in their make believe games even joining in with them. Big Mama teaches the children that they are responsible for their actions. The big event of the day is the trip to Woody's for ice cream. Along the way, Big Mama and the children stop to visit neighbors while helping them with their chores, scurry past the neighborhood bullies, and make the trek back with Big Mama out front leading the children safely home. A small town story with a big hearted message.