Activism & Social Justice – Cannonball Read 17

A few Pride Month titles

Joyful Song : A Naming Story by Lesléa Newman

The Rainbow Parade: A Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Identities and Allies by Shane Jordan, Rick Hendrix and Jieting Chen

Rainbow Allies: The True Story of Kids Who Stood Against Hate by Nancy Churnin

April 22, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

My work emails are getting ready for June and Pride Month. One included a list of five picture book titles. One title I was unable to get the online reader link for, two titles I had read before (one of those I was okay, I don’t need to read again, but I had forgotten I had read the second) and they are remarkably different in how they are Prideful. (All read via an online reader and are due May 2024.) The first I read was […]

Viva la revolution, Humans!

Look Up!: Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution by Britt Condolfi

February 9, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Recently I located the publisher Paw Prints Publishing and they sent me a copy of a title that is due in March 2024. This is not a review of that book, but a review of a picture book due in late April-early May 2024. First, I would like to point out it is never a good idea to look up when birds are around, but Fontaine the Pigeon Revolutionary does not care if you look up or down, he’s going to do that thing birds […]

Celebrating environmentally

Ganesha Goes Green by Lakshmi Thamizhmani

July 11, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In a recent box of books sent to me by a publisher, Ganesha Goes Green by Lakshmi Thamizhmani was included. At first, it was a bit awkward. The pronunciation of some words did not come naturally to me, therefore, it took a minute or two to get into it. But once I did this story about conservation, while keeping true to the culture and holiday, was worth it. Not only do you learn about Indian culture, and the holiday Ganesha Chaturthi, you learn about how Prema and her […]

Banning books is downright dangerous

This Book Is Banned by Raj Haldar

July 3, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

You cannot read this book. I am not sure how I read this book. After all, it is banned. Why? Not because of meanines that hurt things or blow things up or even because it says a bad word. Nope. But because there are giraffes. And dinosaurs. Even avocados. The NERVE of some people! Yes, This Book Is Banned is hyperbole (except for the dinosaurs, the reason some people ban dinosaurs is that they do not think they were real). However, the idea behind it is not. […]

“I didn’t paint my paintings to hang in some rich guy’s living room.” Ralph Fasanella

I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People by Anne Brouyles

June 16, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The picture book I’m Gonna Paint: Ralph Fasanella, Artist of the People is a piece of American and art history. It is a powerful and a wonderful introduction to the artist, Raphael (Ralph) Gasanella. Ralph was born in 1914, the same year as World War One started. But I am pretty sure the two are not connected. Even though Fasanella would cause some noise in his lifetime. A young man, influenced by his modern mother, he would teach himself to read and be active with […]

Putting color back in the world

Sasha & the City of Whispers by Sara Van Horn.

June 7, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Back in February 2023 a book called Sasha & the City of Whispers came out. I did not learn of it until May 2023 when a customer ordered a copy. Finding a readable copy, I read this picture book by Sara Van Horn. Now, the surface story is okay. A girl called Sasha, learns she is not good at doing the tasks her community are tasked with doing. You must always work, work and work. No time for anything else. Their town is loud, no […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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