Where Am I Wednesday? February 24

I signed up for a lot of challenges - probably too many! I plan to check in every other week to track what I've accomplished. Here's where I am so far.

POC Reading Challenge
   Asleep
   My Life as a Rhombus
   Six Easy Pieces
   Violet's Music
   A Chair for Always 
   14 cows for America
   Children of the Waters
  The Seeing Stick
   The Rain Stomper
   I am in the midst of reading A Thousand Never Evers and Bitter Sweets.

Short Story Reading Challenge for 2010.
   Six Easy Pieces

Finish That Series Challenge in 2010.
   I am currently reading the Bookman's Last Fling.

Revisit Your Childhood Favorites Challenge
   I haven't started this one yet.

Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge.
   I haven't started this one yet.

 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge
   Six Easy Pieces
   I am currently reading the Bookman's Last Fling.
   The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith
   The End
   Violet's Music
   A Chair for Always
   14 cows for America
   Dear Mrs. Larue
   Lost and Found
   Children of the Waters
   the Seeing Stick
   The Rain Stomper
   Crazy Hair
   If the World Were a Village
   Finn Throws a Fit
   Those Shoes
   All the World
   Duck and Cover
   I am in the midst of reading A Thousand Never Evers and Bitter Sweets.

Support Your Local Author Challenge.
   My Life as a Rhombus
  The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith

   All the World
 I have checked out but not read A Thousand Never Evers and Trudy

Young Readers Challenge
   The Unexpectedly Bad Hair of Barcelona Smith
   The End
   Violet's Music
   A Chair for Always
   14 cows for America
   Dear Mrs. Larue
   Lost and Found
   the Seeing Stick
   The Rain Stomper
   Crazy Hair
   If the World Were a Village
   Finn Throws a Fit
   Those Shoes
   All the World
   Duck and Cover


Flashback Challenge for 2010.
   I plan to reread The Color Purple

The Audio Book Challenge in 2010.
   I haven't started this one yet.

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.

Pay it Forward

I received gifts in the mail!!!

Last month, Zoe at Playing by The Book posted about receiving a gift from Vanessa at Silly Eagle Books. She offered three people a chance to receive a gift in kind, and I was chosen!! In the same spirit of giving, I want to give a gift to three of you out there.

If you're interested in participating

• Leave a comment on this post. If more than 3 people leave a comment, then I’ll select 3 people randomly after 10pm CST Monday, February 22.
• Don't forget to leave a way to contact you! I’ll then send out a small surprise package to you.
• Once you’ve received the gift, pay it forward to three more people. This is the only “rule” of the game.