In My Mailbox/Mailbox Monday - 11/1/09

Thanks to Marcia at the Printed Page and Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting these memes every week to see what people are getting in their mailboxes.  Here's what came into my house.

Fallen (ARC) by Lauren Kate, from Delacorte Press

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Prowling the Seas by Pamela S. Turner, from the author
From the surface of the ocean, it’s hard to see any visible signs of life below. But this remarkable ecosystem is teeming with life—life that is increasingly under environmental stress. And it is often the predators that sound the earliest warning signs.  By tracking a wide variety of ocean predators, the Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) project provides essential cutting-edge information about the state of the ocean’s health and the challenges facing all its inhabitants. Acclaimed science writer Pamela S. Turner takes readers along with four predators—a leatherback sea turtle, a bluefin tuna, a great white shark, and a Sooty Shearwater—on their remarkable journeys. This full-access look will change the way readers view our blue planet.

Mom, I Fired the Babysitter by Colleen H. Robley Blake
Alex thinks he's old enough to take care of himself, so after his mom hires a babysitter, he tries everything he can to fire her.

Gingerbread Man Superhero! by Dotti Enderle, from Pelican for Cybils judging
One day, a little old lady decides to bake a Gingerbread Man. But he turns out to be not just any Gingerbread Man--this one has special powers, like the ability to fly. He flies to a bakery and helps save the other baked goods from a crazed macaroon, in this hilarious picture book for young readers.

Kick the Cowboy by Joe Gribnau, from Pelican for Cybils judging
Kick is the greatest cowboy the Lone Star State has ever seen. But he's also the grumpiest. Even though he can rope a dozen longhorns in one swift loop, his scowl can scare a scorpion. His Texas-sized attitude swells as each day passes, and soon other cowboys are itchin' to avoid him. One day, a lively young girl loses her puppy and asks Kick for help. After he roars with laughter at her request, she delivers a swift kick that literally brings him to his knees. As the two meet eye to eye, something strange happens. His cruel heart begins to soften, and Kick realizes that maybe, just maybe, he can be kind. Filled with vibrant illustrations and enhanced with a Western twang, Joe Gribnau's heartwarming tale will remind readers that a little bit of compassion and humility can go a long way.

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies by Ammi-Joan Paquette, from Tanglewood for Cybils judging
What better way to celebrate the wonderful world of nature all around us than a hunt for local fairies? Children learn to spot the tell-tale signs of fairies in residence in this delightful mix of photos and illustrations. Then children can take their tracking skills outside to discover the magic in their own backyard. A perfect book for spring or summer!

The Little Pot by Dawn Stephens, from bPlus Books for Cybils judging
How do you teach young children about the value of patience and the loving omniscience of their Creator? Introduce them to The Little Pot, a wise and winsome tale. Soon after a potter lovingly forms a new pot and declares that he has important plans for his creation, the little pot begins to wonder what its purpose will be. Will it be used to hold important documents? Great riches? Beautiful flowers? As various expectations prove wrong, the little pot is cautioned to wait and see. Gradually, Little Pot comes to realize that its creator knows best and has the most wonderful of all uses planned for it. Young readers will realize that the same is true for them: that, like the little pot, they were designed to be vessels that bear fruit. Anyone who has ever had trouble seeing God working in his or her life will realize that, while His work may not always be evident, it is always there.

Star of the Show by Della Ross Ferreri, from Shenanigan Books for Cybils judging
Francine and Max decide to play circus and as usual Francine wants to take center stage. But Max has his own ideas. Francine s comical production woes will be appreciated by every kid who s had to share the limelight with an older sibling.

Always My Brother by Jean Reagan, from Tilbury House Publishers for Cybils judging
Becky and her brother John were best buddies, telling jokes, caring for their dog Toby together, and playing soccer. John was always there to cheer her up and help her out--until he died. Becky wishes everything could go back to the way it was. When she is surprised and feels guilty about enjoying a friend's birthday party, her mom wraps reassuring arms around her and says, "Don't you think he'd want you to laugh, even now?" She gradually realizes that she can still enjoy the things that they used to do together and that the memories of John continue to make him part of their family.

The Listeners by Gloria Whelan, from Sleeping Bear Press for Cybils judging
Ella May lives on a plantation but she doesn't live in the great house. She is a slave. It's dark in the morning when Ella May heads to the fields to pick cotton. And it's sunset when she comes home. But her day isn't done, not yet. Ella May still has important work to do. She's got to listen.
Each night Ella May and her friends secretly listen outside the windows of their master's house. The children listen in the hopes of gleaning information about their fates and those of their loved ones. Who will be sold? Who will stay?

Silly Tilly by Eileen Spinelli, from Marshall Cavendish for Cybils judging
She takes her baths in apple juice.  She wears a pancake as a hat.  She tries to ride the farmer's cat.  But is Tilly too silly?  And when she stops having so much fun, what happens to the farm?

What was in your mailbox?

Book Spotlight - Perseverance

September was Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and I received a book in the mail that deals with that isswue, that I want to spotlight here on the blog.  I meant to have this posted before the end of the month, but the end of the month snuck up on me too quickly.  Forgive me for that.  This isn't a full blown review, but just a post to make you aware of this book and some of my thoughts on it.

Title:  Perservance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors 

Author:  Carolyn Rubenstein

Review Copy Provided by:  Forge Books

About the Book:

Can you imagine being in high school or college and suddenly learning you have cancer?  You thought you had a lifetime ahead of you and the whole world at your feet, but suddenly you're told... maybe not.  How would you cope?

That's the question the twenty young people in this book had to answer when they were diagnosed with childhood cancer.  Perseverance tells of their trials and tribulations, of their triumphs, and of the unique challenges that day-to-day college life brings them.  Perseverance also provides an intimate look at the lives and journeys of these young people and how their courage and strength have affected the lives of others.

These honest, first-person accounts lend amazing depth to the inspiring stories of these young men and women.  Inside, you'll meet Zac York, who tells of climbing Mount Whitney—on crutches—after battling brain cancer.  You’ll meet Alex Oden, who—just days after brain surgery—gave his 8th grade peers a graduation speech called “A Day Well Spent,” in which he challenged them to make a difference in just one day.  You’ll meet Kristen Jones, who, while battling leukemia, was able to pass the MCAT and pursue her dream of becoming a pediatric oncologist.

Twenty unique and fascinating stories, with one common theme: perseverance. The stories of these heroes demonstrate how anyone can learn to live with energy and passion, regardless of the obstacles to be faced, and will remind us all that now is everything.

My Thoughts:  Working with children means that I have seen a lot of kids with a lot of illnesses, but I have only once, in 13 years, been in a school with a child that had cancer.  That was, until this year.  The little boy at my old school, had brain cancer and lost his battle after 2 years.  He was diagnose in kindergarten with a brain tumor, went into remission after chemotherapy, but then it came back and he lost his battle when he was in the 2nd grade.  I watched how he lived every day to the fullest and how his teachers and friends rallied around him.   This year, I have 2 children on my campus with different types of cancer.  One has leukemia and the other, neuroblastoma.  Both are going through chemo as we speak, but they don't let that get them down.  They are beautiful little kids who love school and have fun whatever they do.  One of them, you'd never know was sick except for her short hair and monthly clinic visits.  My thoughts; let them be kids as long as they can and do what kids do.  We don't treat them differently and the other kids don't know there's anything wrong with them.  That's the way it will be as long as we can allow it. 

This book tells stories of children just like those I mentioned.  They tell their stories, move you to tears, inspire and encourage you.  It's amazing how young people, faced with an extreme illness, manage to keep the faith, hope for the best, and persevere.  We can all learn from the youngsters in this book.  It's such an inspiration to read their stories.  We complain about the little things when they suffer and fight a big problem.  It really makes you think about what you complain about.  Is it really worth it?  Do you really have it that bad?  Not if you think about what these young people have gone through and continue to go through.  Read it and be moved.

On a related note,

Yesterday, I spent the morning walking in the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure, breast cancer walk.  This was my second year to do this, and I will walk for years to come, as long as I am able.  I love seeing all the people who come together for a great cause, as well as the many survivors who walk.  One of my good friends is a survivor, and I'm proud to walk in celebration of her.  It's just a great morning!  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I hope that you will take the time this month, to do something to support this cause.  As a woman, I hope that you are doing what you can to be aware of your body and protect yourself by doing monthly exams and getting a yearly mammogram if you're 40 or over.