Great Reads

Ever since the Children's Literature class during my undergraduate studies, I have been hooked on quality literature for children and young adults. A few of my favorite authors are Gary Schmidt, Gary Paulsen, Sharon Creech, and Kate DiCamillo. Actually, I could go on and on with that list. Of course with two classes this summer I have had little time to read personal choices. One book that I did read before classes started was Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World...One Child at a Time (The Young Reader's Edition) by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

The story is about Greg Mortenson who aborts a climb to K2 and finds himself lost in the mountains of Pakistan. After wondering into a very poor village, the people there nurse him back to health. He is overwhelmed by the kindness that they show to him and wonders what he could do to repay their hospitality. When Greg visits the place where the children of Korphe gather to learn, he realizes quickly that they do not have a school building. He finds 78 boys and 4 girls kneeling on the ground to study. Because a teacher costs one dollar a day, they share one with a nearby village. Therefore, the teacher comes three days a week and the rest of the time, the students are left alone to practice the lessons that the teacher left behind. Some children have slates that they write on with sticks dipped in mud while others scratch in the dirt with sticks.

This book is about a promise that Greg made to the village, a promise that he would return and build a school for their children. It is uplifting and filled with love and dedication on both sides.

"With the first cup of tea you are a stranger. With the second...a friend. With the third cup of tea, you are family."

There are incredibly moving lessons to be learned for adults and children in this book. Mortenson has also published a picture book about his journey entitled Listen to the Wind. Check these out at your public library or amazon.com.