Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene don’t stop helping the bees, hunny!

Green Jolene and the Backyard Bees by Wendy Mass

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Green Jolene and the Backyard Bees is written by an author I have enjoyed reading over the years. This author is Wendy Mass. And while they have had a few different ages and have written a few different genres, their more realistic stories are fun. And when Mass collaborates with illustrator Billy Yong you get an interesting combination of realistic story, art and modern feelings. Yet, there is also a classical, family friendly feeling as well. This mixture works for today’s readers aged at least […]

Interactive story with Simon and friends

Simon Turns Right by Nicole van Brummelen

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While I assumed this would be the case, I learned that yes, “choose your own adventures” or in this case, “follow the orders of the creatures in the book so you can flip pages left and right,” in an online format is next to impossible for me to read. Simon Turns Right by Nicole van Brummelen seems like it would be a fun story. And if it had been straight forward (you went from page one to two to three to four….) it would have. […]

Impact of books and other really cool things

The Blue Jays That Grew a Forest by Lynn Street

Little Monk Writes Rain by Hsu-Kung Liu

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As you know I enjoy reading picture books. They are not just for the “kid crowd” as I have found (and highly encourage others  to do so, too) many books that give me information about something or someone I was unfamiliar with. I also find poetry, poetic prose, silliness and much more. But sometimes I am unable to write a “full review” so I must combine them to make one larger review. I do try to “theme” them, and I hope I did with the […]

Giraffe ferry

The GiRaft: A Real-Life Giraffe Rescue by Laurel Neme and Elisa Paganelli

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There is clever and there is clever but just misses the mark when it comes to a fun title. And this is a clever title. The GiRaft: A Real-Life Giraffe Rescue is an easily accessible book as it explains about people save some rare giraffes by using a raft to save it, after a natural event causes a serious situation.  But Laurel Neme gave us more than just that. There is history and environmentalism. There is love of animals and the land. There is a […]

Bear paws and pause

Bear by Himself by Geoffrey Hayes

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Bear by Himself was not something I wanted to read at first look at the online reader copy cover. But there was something about the Geoffrey Hayes book that kept me coming back to it. And, like many books that at first I am not really sure about, it turned out to be a pleasant experience. It is a nice and cozy book that would be perfect for quiet time reading. The classic look to the illustrations will appeal to the adult and kids will […]

Grateful for Soccer

Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell

Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola

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I cannot think of two more opposite books than Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell (illustrated by Paul Meisel) and Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola. Actually  I probably could if I really thought about it, but right now out of the books I have read and are reviewing here, I can’t. You see Morgan is about a new kid who gets himself involved in playing soccer. With only a soccer jersey as his connection to the game. But he learns it is fun, […]



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