Here are a few must have books!

I thought I would post a few books I have found.  On my way back from the doctor's a slight detour takes me past Kids Books which is the deadliest place for my debit or VISA card!  Here are a few finds.  (Note my friends in the USA, the links are to Amazon.ca but you can find all these on Amazon.com)

Book #1



http://www.amazon.ca/Have-Little-Problem-Said-Bear/dp/0735822352

I was sitting looking at books and this was one was face out on a shelf.  I read it and couldn't resist it.  I got the paperback copy and can't wait to read it to a little one.  It is one of those books that is good for snuggling.  Bear has a problem and nobody listens to him. Everybody assumes they know what his problem is and jump in to help.  It isn't until the end of the story that the final character he meets takes the time to listen.

Book #2


http://www.amazon.ca/I-Have-Right-Be-Child/dp/1554981492/ref=sr_il_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353357123&sr=1-1

This one is absolutely wonderful but for a slightly older child 8 plus to really "get" the idea of rights but a good book to discuss with the 6-8 the things they have as a child.  Interestingly the book ends by saying the USA hasn't yet signed the "United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child".  I bought this book about three weeks ago and when I read my school newsletter this morning I discovered  that National Children's Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 20.  "This day commeorates the The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child (November 20th, 1959)  and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (November 20, 1989).  The purpose of National Children's Day is to promote awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  On this day, we take time as parents and educators, to educate our children about their rights and responsibilities as Canadian citizens." (McKechnie Elementary newsletter - November 2012)  It wasn't until I got home and was reading this book that I realized my future child's country signed the Convention as has Vietnam, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Columbia, China, Congo, Repbulic of Korea, Ethiopia and Guatemala.  (I think I've got most of you on the list!!!)  There are 193 countries that have signed!  Leave me a comment if you want me to check the list in the back of the book.

Book #3

http://www.amazon.ca/Shades-People-Sheila-M-Kelly/dp/0823423050/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353358251&sr=1-1

For those of us whose children eventually ask why they are a different shade than us, or simply to talk about racial diversity with young children, this book does a fabulous job at beginning to address the issue.  It talks generally about the different shades of people in society and has a ton of wonderful pictues.  It uses words like creamy, ivory, sandy, peach, coffe, rose, almond, cocoa, copper, tan, almond!  It also says our skin is like "wrapping paper" (gift wrap for those of you south of the 49th) and you can't tell what someone is like from the colour of their skin.   I really liked the page, "Even in the same family there can be many shades". This is a must have and great book for young ones on multi-culturilism and acceptance.

Book #4


http://www.amazon.ca/Kindness-Quilt-Nancy-Wallace/dp/076145313X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353359124&sr=1-1

 Mina, a rabbit, can't decide which of her acts of kindness to write about for school so she makes a quilt showing a number of them.  Her classmates and then her school add to the quilt!   This should be on Oprah's booklist for children!!!!   Go read the reviews but it is quite delightful.  I am going to save it and read it to my class in February for a frienship/Valentines theme.  We will make a quilt and invite other classes to join us. 

Finally for today, in a previous post I wrote about "I Wished For You".  This is a must have book for any family that has or is adopting. I now have two big teddy bears (different shades) from Costco ($8.99 each) to go with the book.  I can't wait to be able to snuggle up with my little one and share this delightful story.

http://www.amazon.ca/I-Wished-You-Adoption-Story/dp/1934082066/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353359915&sr=1-1

One last book I have to share is Pete the Cat.  I had heard about it from a friend and finally ordered it from my September Scholastic.  It is a great book about teaching kids to not let things bother them and being flexible and going with the flow.  My students (6/7 years) loved it and it seems to be a hit with younger kids.


http://www.amazon.ca/Pete-Cat-Love-White-Shoes/dp/0061906220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353360142&sr=1-1

For a live retelling by the author Eric Litwin on You Tube, click here.

I hope I have encouraged you to go and do a little bit of shopping either at Amazon (great free shipping deal in Canada at the moment) or at your local bookstore.  Now for some lunch and then my report cards which I have being procrastinating by this blog post! 

Hayley - my sister's cat playing with my brand new i-pad



My former principal had a staff BBQ at her house 18 months ago and her husband showed me how their cat played on her i-pad.  I have bought an i-pad so that when (note my positivity) I have to make the second trip to my country, the long 6-7 week trip, I can load it with educational apps for my daughter.  I have put games on it for me like: Suduko, Mahjong, Bubbles, Checkers, and Reversi.  Teaching grade two helps as I have already put some educational apps on it based on R's needs that I saw back in May.  If you are new to my blog, you can read about "R" on my other blog.  I have found an excellent sight word block as well as one that teaches letter formation. 

Now back to the cat!!!  The very first app I put on my i-pad was for Hayley.  My sister helped me set up my i-pad, she is a whiz at technology, and then we downloaded the app.  Then we found Hayley, set it up and sat back!  How many people let their cat be the first to play their i-pad?  No she didn't scratch it although from the video it looks like she is destroying it!  I love how she looks underneath it for the mouse! 

Please don't get excited, I haven't heard a thing about making a trip to meet a little girl, never mind a second trip, but like Gen over at Cinnamon Baby I am trying to spread out my expenses!  The adoption process is so expensive that any spreading out of costs helps.  This was a purchase I would have found a challenge to make right before my long trip.   

Enjoy!  I hope this puts a smile on your face.



What's up?

Nothing!

Any news?

Not a single email from my country.  Nothing.

So what now?

I guess sit and wait!

What are you going to do if you don't hear soon?

I don't know!

Are you going to change countries?

And start all over again! 

-----------------------------------------------

Although there is no line with my country, I knew that going in to it, finding another country open to singles and that is actually processing cases is like finding a needle in a haystack!   I had considered country X  and got info from a fellow blogger at the end of the summer.  Thank you my blogging friend.  Several emails back East to the agency for this country have garnered nothing!  Thus,  I don't view this route any better a route than where I am now.  I have asked for dossier requirements, fee schedule etc, nothing outlandish, but yet nothing.  The second family adopting from my country is going to court in November and I can only assume the first family is now safely home.  I was hoping for an email, pictures but I guess they are busy! 

I bought the large white Hemnes bookcase from IKEA, I love my VISA, and am working on decluttering my second bedroom.  Anybody that's a teacher will understand this comment!  I also bought two huge teddy bears from Costco - they are adorable and will be bagging them up soon so they stay dust free.  As soon as I have finished decluttering I will post before and after photos.  I am still leaving the room as my office but have put lots of children's books on the bookcase.  I have been by the chidlren's bookstore on my way home from the doctor's and have several good books I will share.  The books are in no particular order at the moment but it has given me something to do.  Why you might ask am I doing this know?  I want to get organized regardless of what happens and so decided to try and do something.  I also rationalize everything!!!!!!   It drives people that know me well crazy!   Thus I figure if I do this now then after I have received the call, see below, and made the second trip I have less to purchase.  If you read some of the blogs I follow, I am not the only person doing this!   I figure I will have to save like crazy for the final trip as it seems families are in country for a month to six weeks.  We are not allowed to stay in a hotel and have to rent a house!  This is somewhat worrisome as you don't have the security gate of the hotel but oh well!  I will cross that bridge when I get to it and will be looking for people to come and visit me and keep me company.  With one of the big teddybears on the bookcase I can't decide if I'm nesting or creating a shrine!

What are you going to do if you don't hear soon?
 I don't know!

Nobody has actually asked this question, although I have of myself!   I am far from giving up with the process, it means so much to me that I can't do that, and it is hard not to let it control your life.  I am making progress though, as I now only check my email once a day after work.  I was checking about five times a day!   After two phone calls, in which I believe I was politely firm and in control of my emotions, my revised home study did in fact make it to Toronto and then on to my country on October 18!   I continue to wait, some what on call, for the email saying a little girl or girls are available with an invitation to come and meet them.  Do I hold much hope?  Do you have to ask?  Can't you tell by my tone!
I had decided not to blog until I had news and could announce I was making another trip but as this seems to be slow in happening I am trying to stay positive.  Looking at the glass half-full,  my Halloween costume came to me easily this year,  the "Walking Wounded!"  If nothing else it was a spurt of creativity!  I usually hate Halloween.  I didn't grow up with it in the UK and am not a big fan of dressing up.   As my knee has been a bit sore, I wore my old knee from pre my ACL repair in 2000, a crutch, my arm bandaged, a wrist support, my head bandaged!!!!   Sorry, no pics with my camera!  My kiddies at school came in after lunch and a few of them asked, "What happened Miss A?  Did you hurt yourself?"  It was so sweet that they were concerned about their teacher.  I have started a program called Mind-Up and we have been doing mindful breathing three times a day for almost two weeks now.  It is making a difference for some and when they all get it I am going to be joining them.  It is kind of hard to do as you are talking them through it!

Finally, congratulations go out to my mum and dad.  On Halloween, yes you read that right, they celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.  They got married in the UK and back then the UK didn't celebrate Halloween!