World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which will see tens of thousands of people share books with others in their communities across America to spread the joy and love of reading on April 23. I delivered my books to the third grade class of Benteen Elementary. Why third grade you ask? Initially it was based on information I discovered saying that state correctional state planners looked at reading scores of second or third grade students for projecting the state's prison population. But later more legitimate research showed this was an urban myth. Still The myth probably has survived and circulated for more than a decade because it reflects the more fundamental truth that there is a powerful connection between school failure and crime. Several early childhood studies have shown that disadvantaged children who enter strong preschool programs are far less likely to get mixed up in crime when they get older. So here's me doing my part, I was given the opportunity to be a Giver for world book night and I'm happy to say that a group of third graders went home today with The Enders Game.

citation: Bill Graves http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/03/prisons_dont_use_reading_score.html

Still?

I'm amazing, and if you're too shallow to see that I pity you. I pity the conversations you'll have with your glamazon once her beauty fades and she has NOTHING to talk about. There you'll sit discussing Church gossip because that's all she'll have.

Across the world, city or state I'll be having brunch with the District Attorney's wife while he and my husband watch the game. She'll ask me in awe about my days working for Tyler Perry, or what Whitney Houston was really like or how it felt to be the Company Manager of the Atlanta Ballet. She'll beg me to get one of her favorite books signed by one of my many author friends. Then we'll discuss how rewarding it is to work with children, she will sit in awe and her mouth will fall open as I casually say with a smile how surviving cancer multiple times gave me a new perspective on life. Then will lead into what could have possibly led me to apply to Clown College. Part of her will think I must be spinning tales of fancy, all of this could not be the life experience of one person except she will already have been prefaced by her husband on the authenticity of my who, what, when and where.

When we leave my husband will smile at me in the car about how much they loved me and that whatever his ask of the DA was, the answer is yes. Then he'll tell me, "you're amazing".

At the very same time a 55 year old version of you will sit in front of the TV and hope that Glamazon would turn down the volume on her Church gossip because you know she can't change the subject, her looks are gone and the Church gossip is all she has.

Remember me then, I'm amazing. If you're too shallow to see it now you'll have to swallow it with her dry meatloaf then.