Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Gyo Fujikawa drew some babies and made history

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear

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I have read It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way before. However, I had forgotten what a gem Kyo Maclear’s story was. Therefore, it was like finding it all over again. Once reading, I remembered a few things, but new information came to light. We know Gyo Fujikawa for her babies of all colors. But this was not always the case. She, along with a select few, decided to put diverse characters in their images. Yet, in the 1960s, this did […]

The Sixth Day is for Music

Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley

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Sofi has been training all her life to replace her father as Musik, but when beautiful, untrained Lara wins the role instead, she suspects  there may be illegal magic involved. A long while ago I read about the Polgár sisters, a trio of Hungarian chess prodigies who were very carefully reared by their father to eat, sleep, and breath chess. I found myself simultaneously fascinated and horrified at this single-minded cultivation of genius, because it sounded like a terrible thing to do to children, robbing […]

Brush up on your graphic novels

Primer by Jennifer Muro

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My go-to for when I do not think I can write 250 words for a review is I start brainstorming, writing things down. And I will do that with Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski. I have had a copy of Primer since goodness knows when. However, I misplaced it. Therefore, when I was browsing the local library website, I said, “Go for it. Just get it.” I am not 10 years old. At least, physically. Mentally, however, I should be right there with […]

Father and son doing art

Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son by John Parra

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Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son by John Parra is a neat book. I was not sure what to expect, but it was not what I got. I really liked this book. It is sentimental and inspiring. And has lovely illustrations that are fun, cozy, and active. Parra’s story is based on his growing up in California and helping his father in his landscaping business. Parra’s young boy of the story observes the things around him. He notices people his […]

Maybe it is or isn’t art, but the woman behind it made an impact

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey

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Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey is a sweet story about a woman who we might not have heard of, but one that in many ways changed the world. Hitting many first landmarks, such as Almas Thomas was the first black woman to have an art show at a particular museum, she was the first contemporary artwork and first woman of color to have their work in the White House), but she also just seemed to be a […]

Happy Little Book

Bob Ross, Peapod the Squirrel, and the Happy Accident by Robb Perlman

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Bob Ross, Peapod the Squirrel, and the Happy Accident is an adorable story about art, making happy accidents and not mistakes, and the joy of painting. It is everything we loved about Bob Ross from his demeanor to his confidence, to his belief in “you the viewer/reader.” If you do not hear Ross saying, “Happy Little Accident,” you are lying. Robb Perlman is the author of this and the first Bob and Peapod book, Bob Ross and Peapod the Squirrel which I have not read […]



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