Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Sad books that help make it better

The Fabric of Us by Aditi Anand

Where Are You, Eddie? A Companion to Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen and Gill Smith

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This is a review that seems like another review about a book I almost didn’t write up, but it is not really. Oh, yes, I almost did not write up The Fabric of Us by Aditi Anand (due later May 2026; read via an online reader copy) because I could not think of enough words for a full review. At least not by itself. It was only when I read  Where Are You, Eddie? A Companion to Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen and […]

Short and sweet, with great illustrations

The Dragon of Og by Rumer Godden

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Our 2025 read-aloud journey continues! I found this one thanks to a list along the lines of, “If you liked The Hobbit…” We read it in one afternoon (it’s very short), and both kids give it two thumbs up. The titular dragon has a lovely home under a pool in a river belonging to Lord of Tundergarth, a home found for him by his thoughtful mother. He is a shy, quiet dragon who eats only one bullock every 2 or 3 weeks, from the cattle […]

“I was fifteen when I decided to go to America and make a name for myself,” Allen Say

The Inker's Shadow by Allen Say

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When I learned that Drawing from Memory by Allen Say had a sequel called The Inker’s Shadow I went into “Find This Book” Mode. And interlibrary loan did not let me down. Now, this book is a lot like the first, but deals with his years in the states. It moves a bit faster, covers more ground and years and fills in the information that shows how he was shaped into the author and illustrator that he would become. It is not just a great […]

1 review plus 3 books equals one awesome series

Gina and the Last City on Earth (Hilo #9) by Judd Winick

Rise of the Cat (Hilo #10) by Judd Winick

The Great Space Iguana (Hilo #11) by Judd Winick

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When I picked up my first Hilo graphic novel by Judd Winick I was unaware of his reality show past. He was one of the first people in The Real World. He started the insanity, so to speak. However, I’ve never seen that show nor hold his past against him, as the future is bright with this series. Books one to eight have been a treat. Some were great, some so-so and maybe one or two were “Well, get on with it! How do they […]

Busy Busy

I'm Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book by Oliver Jeffers

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An odd way to start a review is to say I did not really care for I’m Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book by Oliver Jeffers. If you did not like something why take the time to write about it? Honestly I thought that I wouldn’t until I got to thinking about if I had a customer looking for a birthday book that was a bit goofy and different, but has some common elements too, what could I give them? Well, Jeffers book was […]

What army base is off limits on Passover? (Fort Leavenworth) but seriously, this is a serious (but fun) story

The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana Maria Shua

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When I am not sure how to start a review I look up punisher descriptions and/or other peoples reviews. Part of the publisher’s description has this mentioning how it is about freedom for the Jewish people-and their pets, and that is a good way to start my review for The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana Maria Shua. The characters in the story are visiting family for the holiday. The children are either having their first one or are old hats. But when they decide that freedom […]



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