Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

For zoology and art geeks! The original Pantone collection, as used by Darwin.

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours Adapted to Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Anatomy, and the Arts by Patrick Syme

by 2 Comments

Shout out to Ms. Was for suggesting this book to me last March! I put it on my Christmas list and Santa delivered. The full title of this petite tome is almost as long as the book itself: Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, with Additions, Arranged So As to Render It Highly Useful to the Arts and Sciences, Particularly Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mineralology, and Morbid Anatomy, Annexed to Which Are Examples Selected from Well-Known Objects in the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms. This delightful little book […]

Sophia shows you love

Love by Sophia by Jim Averbeck

by Leave a Comment

When I did something for Valentine’s Day for my three nephews, I had to be creative as one is diabetic, and candy is mostly out of the question (and besides, everyone else will be giving them chocolate, tootsie rolls and cheese puffs  regardless anyway. No more food related items were needed). Instead, I would usually give them a little activity book, tattoos from Dover or a of course, a “book-book.” And now, since the youngest is 16, this book would not work for them anymore, […]

If glass work is men’s work, why did one woman revive the lost art of millefiori?

A Thousand Glass Flowers: Marietta Barovier and the Invention of the Rosetta Bead by Evan Turk

by Leave a Comment

I have a ton of reader copies that are picture books. The great thing about them is you can read one or two (or three) at lunch. This particular picture book, A Thousand Glass Flowers: Marietta Barovier and the Invention of the Rosetta Bead took a little longer than usual. Partly because of that really long title! However, once you get into Evan Turk’s story, you know it was worth it. As a child of the 15th century Italy, Marietta was fascinated by her father’s […]

If you found a long-lost hidden diary, how long would it take you to devour the entire thing?

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

by 2 Comments

If you found a long-lost private diary written by a woman who died under mysterious circumstances, would you read it? What if that woman was one of the founders of the school where you are currently employed? What if you are living in that woman’s former home? What if you are writing your thesis on this woman and her work? What if, less than two pages into the diary- webs of secrets start to untangle? OF COURSE you would read it. Our narrator, Meg Rosenthal […]

Books to buy with gift cards: Picture books

Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone by Michelle Meadows

Simon at the Art Museum by Christina Soontornvat

by Leave a Comment

I would say these two books would be great Holiday presents, and they are, but since it is December 24, they will not make it in time (unless your local independent together bookstore has them). Therefore, when you get your gift cards to that same store, you can go and look for them instead. Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows and Ebony Glenn doing illustrations.  The only reason I am giving this a four and not a five is […]

BFL: Big Friendly Leviathan (Or not)

Doodleville V01 by Chad Sell

by Leave a Comment

Doodleville V01 by Chad Sell was a bit of a hard sell for me (okay got that out of my system). It is by the author of a book I felt was “Okay. Not OKAY!” (A small difference, but one nonetheless.) But I was in the mood for something that felt easy but knew would not be just fluffy and Doodleville seemed to fit. And the theme of dealing with the fears and emotions of one girl was not fluffy. But it was not “heavy” […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo