Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Dan is a good kid, and this is a good book

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

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A First Time for Everything is a delightful read about one summer and the trip of a lifetime. Some people dream of a trip like Dan’s, others have nightmares, but regardless this is a great coming of age book that we all can relate to (a modern reader will love seeing the late 1980s) and enjoy. There is a lot going on and a must read. Dan Santat’s signature style illustrations the adventures that await. Dan’s adventures start in middle school, where he is asked […]

Bring out the Gnomes

The Magic Cap. by Mirelle Messier

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It was a picture book kind of day and Edelweiss was very obliging with the future publications being available. One due late May/early April 2023 was The Magic Cap. This fairytale (possible retelling, but modern tones) is about two siblings who lived in a cottage next to the woods. This was long ago, and they had just themselves (Arlo and Isaura), their pet hedgehog, Crispin but little else. When Crispin becomes ill the children try to capture a gnome for help. Things do not work […]

Real villains

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

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As of this writing/posting of the review for The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill I am only halfway through. I published before finishing as I had some ideas I wanted to put down as I was/am not completely sure why this book has critics excited. It is terribly slow, and the real action does not start to take place until the middle of the book. And then, when things are about to finally happen, the orphan that meets the Ogress is asleep with […]

As the author says, it is Norman Rockwell with more Tupperware.

Home for Christmas by Susan Branch

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At first, I was not really into Home for Christmas by Susan Branch. I was wondering, “Where is Jim-Bob and John-Boy?” The cute hand-written text, the mix of illustrations and black and white photographs left nothing to the imagination. You knew the emotions the author wanted and where they were taking you. But then I was, “That’s not so bad. I mean it is nice not to have anything really bad happen. They are growing up poor, but they do not care/really know it, as […]

Mycology

Mason Goes Mushrooming by Melany Kahn

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Today I do not like mushrooms. Yesterday I was not crazy about them. But ask me tomorrow and I might have changed my mind. You see, mushrooms are one of those foods that I must be in the mood for. But our hero in Mason Goes Mushrooming (by the way, his name is Mason), loves mushrooms year around. And there is nothing wrong with that. And if you are like Mason, you should read Melany Kahn’s picture book and learn about the different mushrooms and […]

Theme of the day: Crazy and pets.

Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty

Latke, the Lucky Dog by Ellen Fischer

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Bathe the Cat is a love it or not book. And it all depends on what you think of insanity and a very naughty cat. One of the dads of the story wants everyone to clean up as Grandma is coming soon. But even though he has a very put together list of chores posted, the cat (who is on the list as the recipient of a bath) decides to mix things up and mayhem ensues to the point of sweeping the fish, mopping the […]



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