Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Two pieces of history around the world

A Place Called Galveston by Andrea Shapiro

Claudia Said Sí!: The Story of Mexico's First Woman President by Deborah Bodin Cohen, Kerry Olitzky and Carlos Vélez Aguilera

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Recently I mentioned to a friend of mine that there are a lot of political titles happening, even in the children’s genres. And most are slanted seriously and obviously in one direction or the other. Therefore, when I find something that is not political, but could fit current events I try to pay attention.  Two of those books are A Place Called Galveston by Andrea Shapiro and illustrator Valerya Milovanova, as well as Claudia Said Sí!: The Story of Mexico’s First Woman President by Deborah […]

Old idea, new presentation

Papilio by Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser and Corey R. Tabor

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The concept of coming of age is told through the eyes of a butterfly in Papilio. Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser, and Corey R. Tabor created a unique read (the coming of age concept) but still is a book about a butterfly and its life cycle. We follow Papilio from the changes they have from egg to a falling (though feels like flying) caterpillar, to an actual flying butterfly. Told in three “chapters” these sections show us the stages of going from caterpillar, to caterpillar […]

Dreams can change you

Caterpillar Chryzzle by Andrew Bond

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Caterpillar Chryzzle by Andrew Bond and illustrated by Julie Völk is cbr16bingo Dreams just because there is a new adventure coming. The Caterpillar of the story is going onto another life and not standing still. They feel the “tingly” or the “chryzzle” of what lays beyond what they have in front of them. Others might laugh, and are content to stay grounded (literally in the character of Worm) but our young hero won’t be stopped. This book shows how we must allow ourselves to grow […]

Are you my reader?

Catwad Volume 1: It’s Me by Jim Benton

My Little Thief  by Augusten Burroughs

A Pizza My Heart by Stephani Stilwell

The Making of Butterflies by Zora Neale Hurston

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Time for the round-up of books I want to review but cannot do 250 words each for. They range from picture books to graphic novels. And we see old favoirte authors, new ones, and adult auhotrs coming to dark side (afterall, we are kids and have cookies). Sometimes I like Jim Benton, sometimes I do not. And this was a do not. Catwad Volume 1: It’s Me is a collection of (to some, though the line about running hate for Catwad was amusing) humorous stories […]

Butterfly breathing

Already a Butterfly: A Medication Story by Julia Alvarez

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Do you need a reason to read Already a Butterfly: A Medication Story other than the fact it is by Julia Alvarez and Raul Colon? I mean, it almost does not get much better than this. Yet, it does get better when you read this picture book on meditation for kids and even, adults. However, if I have one comment that leans towards a negative it is that the word “medication” is used.  I completely enjoyed the journey of our heroine Mari Posa. I just […]

See the light and check out this book

Claudia & Moth by Jennifer Hansen Rolli

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I was all into Claudia & Moth right up until Claudia paints the moth (literally). My thought is “Wouldn’t this kill the moth?” At the very least, even non-toxic paint for humans could be toxic to a moth. It is only at the end that Claudia learns that the moth has its own beauty that she decides to paint the month in a special way.  I would have written a different ending, but this is Jennifer Hansen Rolli’s choice. However, their illustrations are quite lovely. […]



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