Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Dusty town It’s a busy village Every day Like the one before Little town Full of little people Wanting to say, WHERE THE F IS SUNDAY?

The Lost Sunday by Iléana Surducan

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I won’t say a lot about the themes or story of The Lost Sunday by Iléana Surducan as it is pretty traditional. There are fairy tale tropes, the ideas are what you would expect for an Odyssey like journey of a young girl to the witches lair. The illustrations are amusing, cute, clever, simple and detailed simultaneously. There are good colors to them, without being too bold or too muted. They are supportive of the story. There are not a lot of surprises for big […]

In the Early 1980s Fujiwara Maki began a picture diary

My Picture Diary by Maki Fujiwara

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My Picture Diary is an odd little book. It is a day-to-day/day in the life of the author, Maki Fujiwara (also illustrated by) and her family. Things are fairly dull on the surface, but a lot is going on nonetheless. You can see the era (the late 1970s/early 1980s) and the culture and country (Japan); and of course, the husband and wife and the parent(s) and child relationships. The illustrations are simple, but deceptively so. The style itself is not overly detailed, but they do […]

Axolotls are all the rage

Max, a Little Axolotl #1 (An Original Graphic Novel) by Joey Spiotto

Axolotl and Axolittle by Jess Hitchman and Sarah Rebar

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I cannot say that Max, a Little Axolotl #1 (An Original Graphic Novel) is the best book I have ever read. I cannot even say it was a great book. Joey Spiotto made a cute story about coming out of your comfort zone, friendship and even a little bit about axolotls.  The thing is, as an adult, I can like and appreciate the book, but it was slightly too simple for my personal tastes. Therefore, at least five and up would be a good read-to […]

She has a secret

Ellie Has a Secret by Amelia Bothe

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While I enjoyed Amelia Bothe’s Ellie Has a Secret, (due mid-August 2025) for the story, I mostly enjoyed the illustrations. The story itself is not new (which is about a child having a secret that makes the “tummy wobbles” happen), but the illustrations really grabbed my attention. They are not overly colorful, but do not lack in that area either. They are detailed, but not overly so. Sometimes they can be a bit busy, but it does not distract or take away from the experience. […]

A funny thing happened after my dad died

Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story by Alex Krokus

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While I am giving Talking to My Father’s Ghost: An Almost True Story by Alex Krokus a five, it is more of a 4.5 to 4.75 as I had a few issues with things. Such as I am not a direct fan of the illustrations; though I appreciate the time, effort and work that goes into them. I would like to see the final product to see if color is being used and have explained to me how our characters are a daddy penguin and […]

Morris, Argow and Dalton Authors and Illustrators in Print

Beatrix Butterfly Wings It for Once (Addie Ant's Garden Friends) by Maren Morris, Karina Argow and Kelly Anne Dalton

Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure by Maren Morris, Karina Argow and Kelly Anne Dalton

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I was looking for books for a couple of orders at work the other day and in the process looked at the faceouts of new picture books lining the shelves. One of them was Beatrix Butterfly Wings It for Once (Addie Ant’s Garden Friends) by Maren Morris, Karina Argow and Kelly Anne Dalton (illustrator). It has a funky, cute, interesting cover. It has pinkish-reds and just was sitting there, pushed back from the edge. It was hiding in the shadows. I pulled it forward to […]



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