Kid's reads

 This week's kid's books were visually entertaining.

Those shoes (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) I think that this one was my favorite one for the week. A young boy is saddened by the fact that he can't afford the popular shoes that all of his classmates seem to have. When his shoes fall apart, he is embarrassed by the shoes he has to take from the school's supply. His grandmother finds a pair at a thrift shop, which he buys even though they are too small. When his friend is without shoes, he makes a tough choice. This book really touched my heart while attesting to the generosity of children.

The Rain Stomper. (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) Beautifully illustrated, this book reminded me a great deal of my dancing daughter. The main character is looking forward to participating in the annual parade until the rain comes. But she doesn't let that stop her from expressing herself.

 If the World Were A village. (Read as part of the Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) As a former math teacher, I was really excited about the numbers in this book. Using the premise that the world is a village of a mere 100 people, this books explains how the people represent different demographics. Oh the lessons and activities I could have students do based on this book!
The Seeing Stick by Jan Yolen. (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) I loved this one. The illustrations were awesome, and the theme of appreciating what's around you was nicely illustrated.
 All the World (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) This beautifully illustrated book celebrates that mankind is one big family.
 Crazy Hair (Read as part of the Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) I enjoyed the rhythm and rhyme of this book. The illustrations were interesting as well.
 Finn Throws a Fit (Read as part of the Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) Super illustrations of a little one throwing a big fit. As the mother of a two-year-old, I can relate!
Duck and Cover (Read as part of the Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) A cute book involving animal antics.

Children of the Water

Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice isbn 0345499077, pages

This story brings two people together from seemingly different worlds. As they learn the secrets that have been kept,  they begin to question their identities. Trish is a divorced white mother of a teenaged bi-racial son. When Trish learns that  her baby sister had been given up for adoption, she sets out to find and unite with her. Billie is newly pregnant, which causes her boyfriend to consider abandoning the relationship. Learning that she is adopted and biracial causes her to question everything she knows.

This book confronted several racial issues. I appreciated that it didn't come off as preachy. Nor did it imply that there is a preferred position to take. Everyone had room to openly address their own biases and misperceptions. The characters had issues like we all do, and no one was better or worse off than anyone else.

I read this as a participant in the following challenges.

Six Easy Pieces

Six Easy Pieces by Walter Mosley isbn 0743442547, 288 pages

This collection of short stories features the Easy Rawlins character. Each chapter involves a case that he solves. While the chapters are sequential, each story is written in such a way that they don't depend on one another.
As a big Rawlins fan, I was not disappointed by this collection. I enjoyed how each story unfolded. While the stories didn't depend on each other, they came together to paint a full picture. The downside for me was how he had to repeat details each time.
In essence, Easy has created a "normal" life for himself and his family. But he is haunted by the death of his best friend and is drawn in to cases while trying to answer some questions for himself.

I read this book as part of the following challenges.

Recent Kid's Reads

I've been trying to do a better job of reading with and to my kids, so I've picked up some kids books recently. I'll just give a quick overview of what I've been reading.

14 cows for America (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges) This is the story of a student from Kenya who was studying in America on 9/11/01. He was so troubled by the event that he traveled home to his village to determine what they could do to assist the affected people. The most valuable commodity in this village is a cow. Altogether, the village presented 14 cows to the American ambassador as a gesture of solidarity with the Americans. The empathy and generosity expressed in this book touched my heart. I was taken back to the level of emotion that I felt at that time, and I found myself teary-eyed after reading this story. The illustrations were beautiful and contributed to my ability to feel the emotion of the time.

A Chair for Always (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers, and Support Your Local Library challenges)
I own two other books in this series (A Chair for My Mother, and Something Special for Me), so I couldn't resist checking this one out. Though the illustrations were similar to the other books, I didn't feel this one as much. While the excitement of a new baby is special, I couldn't get into the telling of this particular story. It seemed more like the author was capitalizing on previous success rather than telling a story that I needed to hear.

Violet's Music (Read as part of the POC, Young Readers and Support Your Local Library challenges)
This was the story of a girl being herself no matter what and being rewarded for her perseverance in the end. I enjoyed the illustrations in this one.

The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith. (Read as part of the Young Readers, Support Your Local Library, and Support Your Local Authors challenges)
This was also the story of a boy learning to be accepting of all aspects of himself. Nice pictures.

Dear Mrs. Larue (Read as part of the Young Readers and Support Your Local Library challenges)
This is a humorous tale of a dog's attendance at obedience school. My children enjoyed the dual perspectives illustrated in this book.

   The End (Read as part of the Young Readers, Support Your Local Library challenges)
This is a fairy tale told in reverse. It illustrates cause and effect.

Lost and Found (Read as part of the Young Readers and Support Your Local Library challenges)
I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. The story was about the value of friendship.

My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson

My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson isbn 0738711608, 312 pages

In this story, Rhonda attends a high end private school but avoids fitting in. She spends her time in the books. But she is forced to change course when she begins tutoring Sarah, one of the most popular girls in school. When she learns that Sarah is pregnant, memories of her own past help them to bond as friends. But Rhonda's past also blocks her ability to enjoy a relationship with Sarah's brother.

This was a nice story. It attempted to show a girl's struggle to avoid the mistakes of the past while trying to move on with her life. I also appreciated the fact that while the main characters where African American, it wasn't what defined them.

I completed this book as a participant in the following challenges.

Asleep

Asleep (1999) by Wendy Raven McNair 1442125241, 442 pages

This is the story of 16-year-old Adisa who fantasizes about being a super hero and lives in the shadow of her beautiful, older twin sisters. She falls for her new neighbor and classmate, Micah, who is initially standoffish. As they begin their relationship, she learns why he keeps to himself and tries to adjust to his secret.

I really enjoyed this book. Does this mean that I am only as emotionally mature as a teenaged girl? I don't know, but I was intrigued by the relationship that this couple shared. I was proud when she stood up for herself, and I was glad that she knows herself. This is a book that I'm excited to pass on to my daughters to read.

I was excited to learn that this is the first in a series, and disappointed to know that the rest of the series hasn't been written yet. I will definitely be first in line to buy the rest of these books as they come out.

I completed this book to participate in the POC Reading Challenge