Beyond the Blackboard by Stacey Bess

"Beyond the Blackboard" is full of stories from teaching at the "School With No Name."  This is a school offered to homeless children in Salt Lake City, UT.  The author gives touching story after touching story of teaching, homelessness, love, family, poverty, and sometimes even miracles.  This book helps get a glimpse of this aspect of society that no one really wants to think about or talk about because it requires a look at the reality of real troubles in society.  It's a book that will probably come to one's mind even after the book is closed.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

I couldn't help but giggle when I read this book.  It is such an enjoyable read.  I picked this book up not really intending to read it right away.  My neighbor had given it to us for Christmas....THANK YOU NEIGHBOR!  I picked it up to see how hard it would be and ended up stuck to it.  I enjoyed it thoroughly!   This is a super fun story about some mean, not well cared for, troublemaking kids.  These kids are bullies.  It's interesting how they come to be in the Christmas Pageant at church.  It totally made me think about the Saviors birth and it also made me wonder and feel compassion for children that struggle.  I finished feeling uplifted after reading it.  I really LOVE this book.