animals – Page 59 – Cannonball Read 17

Get your Wild Kratts here!

Wild Sea Creatures: Sharks, Whales and Dolphins by Kratt Brothers

April 23, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

This is not your parents Kratt Brothers. Or more likely, your Kratt Brothers. Chris and Martin Kratt took their love of animals and nature and turned it into various television shows and books. Here in the Wild Kratts (based on one television series) the brothers, in their cartoon style illustrations, created a level two reader about the critters of the sea. Very basic information can be found in Wild Sea Creatures: Sharks, Whales and Dolphins. The aged aimed for (like many level twos, but not […]

There wasn’t a thesaurus in sight!

Dinosaur Roar! by Michael Paul

April 23, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I recently heard that children who like dinosaurs could have a higher IQ. I do not know if that is true, but I do know that anyone that can pronounce Apatosaurus or Parasaurolophus has a grasp on language. However, Dinosaur Roar! by Michael Paul, does not have a pronunciation key. This made it a bit awkward to try and read if you are not paleontologist or a longtime lover of the dinosaur crew. And there is no scientific information, just basic facts to each creature. […]

If I was a pen, this review would be my canvas

If I Was the Sunshine by Julie Foglilano

April 17, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

If I Was the Sunshine is one of those books where there is nothing wrong with it, yet it is also a YMMV book. The text will be relatable on a personal level. You take away what you put into it. If you think it will be a lovely story like Guess How Much I Love You (a father/child relationship) it will be a lovely story about a parent/adult and child relationship). If you think it will be a sappy-pappy piece, then it will be […]

When the days call for a story about a family of mice

Brambly Hedge The Secret Staircase by Jill Barklem

April 3, 2019 by BlackRaven 1 Comment

I have recommended the Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem for ages. I have seen them go out of print and back into print again at least once. Yet, I have never read an actual book. I found The Secret Staircase (pun not intended) while looking through some books that were (let us say) preloved. I picked it up thinking they were standalone stories. However, I quickly realized, while they are standalones, they do connect with each other and had I read a completed chronological […]

Somehow I thought it would be cooler if animals went to school

If Animals Went to School by Ann Whitford Paul

March 29, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

If Animals Went to School by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by David Walker is a cute story with some animals that are not always used in books (beaver) about going to school. Sadly, there is nothing new after that. Beaver is a bit reluctant to go to school, so he goes very slow. However, once there he learns that school is cool and does not want to go (this time) home. The small saving element is that some animal characteristics are used (the fox […]

As the illustrations grow crowded friendship grows too

The Song of Spring by Hendrik Jonas

March 21, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Song of Spring sat behind Hungry Bunny in the Spring/Easter display and since I did not want to head back to work right away, I took a minute with it. Hendrik Jonas’s book has a little interaction to it, which I thought tied it in nicely with Claudia Rueda’s book. This interaction of saying the sounds of the animals you encounter is a bit more traditional than the actual moving of the other book. But you still will be having the child listener […]

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.

Help Our Mission