Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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 […]

“Let’s stop all the fight (Now)”

War Is Over by Sean Ono Lennon, Dave Mullins, Brad Booker, Max Narciso

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[Intro: Yoko Ono & John Lennon] Happy Christmas, Kyoko Happy Christmas, Julian [Verse 1: John Lennon] So this is Christmas And what have you done? Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you had fun The near and the dear ones The old and the young [Chorus: Yoko Ono & Harlem Community Choir] A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let’s hope it’s a good one Without any fear [Verse 2: John Lennon & Harlem Community […]

When your duet partner chirps

Beatrice and the Nightingale by Patricia Newman and Isabelle Follath

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You ever read a book that was not Best Book Ever, but there was something about it that really hit you, that really made you feel, you really enjoyed, you got into, that gave you something? Beatrice and the Nightingale by Patricia Newman and Isabelle Follath was that book for me. I read it via an online reader copy, it will come out in mid February 2026 and I might get a finished copy. The idea is simple: a young girl from a musical family […]

Home

Sparrow by Mary Tebo

Home Away From Home by Nazneen Akbari

Upside-Down Iftar by Maysa Odeh

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  Culture is an interesting subject to read about. I have recently read several titles that give us a little insight into some cultures that might be different from ours, but also show how things are universal, too. Worldly books are perfect additions to anyone’s library. In the Western Wall, lives a Sparrow. The story slowly builds to the end where the idea of hope has unfolded in a special way. Mary Tebo’s story is clever and sweet, but also has a bit of an […]

One December night

The Birds of Christmas by Olivia Armstrong

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The Birds of Christmas by Olivia Armstrong and illustrated by Mira Miroslavova is a delightful spiritual story with a folktale approach. The colors and images are rich and move the story along. We follow the birds during the birth of the Christ child and the gifts they give to him. Yet, even though it Christian based (the birth of Christ) it is less religious and more wanting to give the spirit of the season. I loved how Miroslavova’s illustrations are rich, pretty and show how […]



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