Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

What army base is off limits on Passover? (Fort Leavenworth) but seriously, this is a serious (but fun) story

The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana Maria Shua

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When I am not sure how to start a review I look up punisher descriptions and/or other peoples reviews. Part of the publisher’s description has this mentioning how it is about freedom for the Jewish people-and their pets, and that is a good way to start my review for The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana Maria Shua. The characters in the story are visiting family for the holiday. The children are either having their first one or are old hats. But when they decide that freedom […]

“Good Morning with roses and jasmine,”

A Good Morning for Giddo by Dahlia Constantine and Irene Latham

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Picture books are a great way to read a book without reading a few hundred pages. They still can entertain, give factual information and make you laugh. Of course, you can cry and be mad, too, as everything is there, as well. I have said this before and will say it again: Picture books are legitimate books. And A Good Morning for Giddo is a very legitimate book. It does not have a big action scene and the message is a little slow in the […]

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 […]

Cool drink of love

Zamzam for Everyone: Sharing Water at Hajj by Razeena Omar Gutta

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I was going to cut back on the number of reviews I did this year, but then well, books happened! Books like Zamzam for Everyone: Sharing Water at Hajj by Razeena Omar Gutta and illustrated by Bassent Dawoud (due January 2026, read via an online reader copy). There are several books on the Islamic faith for the younger crowd. However, they are mostly repetitive and hit the “big events” and there is nothing wrong with that, but I needed something different and I found it […]

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus, elves, flying reindeer and lots of love

North for the Winter by Bobby Podesta

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Cbr17bingo N (N is for North and Nobody will believe what our main character does!) North for the Winter by Bobby Podesta is probably one of the best books I’ve read this year. I love the historical aspect (the birth of tracking Santa because of a misprint in an advertisement in 1955) and while maybe it was not the most original with the grief and family connection/friend interaction, the ending was worth that familiarity of grief and the healing process. It is fun and quirky. […]

B is for Bingo and Batcat

Batcat V03 Cooking Contest! by Meggie Ramm.

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cbr17bingo B (for Batcat) When you find yourself reading a series, there are only two options. The first, only read one and hope that you can live with any open ending or continuation to the story unanswered, or two, be like me with the series Batcat and try and read them all! Volume 3 of Batcat is Batcat V03 Cooking Contest! by Meggie Ramm. This time there is more fun and cuteness from Batcat (who is a nonbinary, part bat and part cat creature) and […]



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