Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

The Reason for the Season

Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne

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I do not know how old I was before I realized that the song Silent Night had more than the one or two verses I knew. Lara Hawthorne’s book incorporates all of the verses with delightfully, (I assume) historical accurate illustrations that are simple, but give the reader everything needed. Their picture book, Silent Night (due October 2024), will be the perfect gift for the holidays and even year around. This book is going to be one of my religious holiday recommendations for everyone. However, […]

I like picture books 2

In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limón

Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills by Billy Mills and Donna Janell Bowman

It's Fall! (Celebrate the Seasons #1) by Renee Kurilla

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The only issue with picture books is that if you try to write a full review for each individual book it is hard to do. After all, you’re trying to write a 250 word review for a book that might have 50 pages and 200 words. But, that’s why a good Picture Book Roundup is a great way to find books for you to peruse!  Written by Ada Limón and illustrated by Peter Sís, In Praise of Mystery is a romantic and poetic book about […]

Celebrating and loss

Popi's All Souls Song by C.K. Malone

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Popi’s All Souls Song by C.K. Malone and illustrated by Shelly Swann is due mid September 2024. I was able to find an online reader copy and I am curious about the final product. I think reading online made me “miss” some important pieces of the story. There is a small bump near the end that did not flow for me. However, overall it is an interesting story that takes a familiar topic (the death of a loved one) and handles it with love, care […]

Family celebration

A Turkish Rosh Hashanah by Etan Basseri

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I was reading A Turkish Rosh Hashanah (via an online reader copy though it has recently been released) by Etan Basseri and thought about The Light Keeper by Levin, Baslaw and Priestley. It is not because they have a similar theme, setting (one is set in Russian, one in Turkey), or even that the main characters are all Jewish, but it just had that feel of something familiar and yet, also different. It was sweet, interesting and a bit educational without being textbook-like. They both […]

Celebration of storytelling

The Girl and the Robot Heart by Neal Hoskins

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I was reading up a storm the other day and found an online reader copy (due late September 2024) called, The Girl and the Robot Heart.  It is a terribly lovely story that is not easy to read or to view. It is not a one time read, but a multiple time read where you need to break things down. First read the text, then read the art and finally the two together (or whichever order you would like to do). And though set at […]

Spicy pancake celebrations

Gingerbread Dreidels by Jane Breskin Zalben

Attack of the Scones (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

Spicy Spicy Hot! by Lenny Wen

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Who doesn’t love food? I mean most people at least like it or have at least one thing they like. And if you know me, I like books as well as food. So when I can combine the two likes it is always fun.  I will start with Gingerbread Dreidels by Jane Breskin Zalben with illustrations by Thai Phuong. Due late August 2024 (read via an online reader copy), this picture book shows how we can have a lot of celebrations in our lives, and […]



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