Concepts – Page 16 – Cannonball Read 17

If you can think of a better fish pun… Let minnow.

Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian

December 18, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

From the crowded cover image there was only one way Memoirs of a Goldfish could go: the theme was going to be either: big fish in a little pond, goes to big pond and learns “There’s No Place Like Home” or the goldfish was going to go off looking for solitude and learn that “There’s No Place Like Home.” Either way, “There’s No Place Like Home” was going to be the message. And it is. Somewhat. What I mean is, yes, when the Goldfish’s small […]

The perfect order for 26 letters

Al Pha’s Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

December 18, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Al Pha’s Bet is a clever and unique way to teach the alphabet, with a heavy helping of humor. The main character is a gent named Al Pha. When the King wants to organize the newly invented letters into an organized format, Al makes a bet with himself that he can find a way. Amy Krouse Rosenthal and their characteristic humor splashes onto each page pushing you along to learn one possible reason how those 26 letters got into that wild and crazy order. And […]

Superheroes are human, too

Dear Justice League by Michael Northrop

October 16, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Dear Justice League, How did you know that ages 7 to 10 (and the big kid in all of us) would want to read this book (called Dear Justice League by author Michael Northrop) over and over? This format of your Justice League character (Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and Superman) fans emailing you a letter (and actual pen and paper writing to Batman) asking about things as deep as “Do you ever make mistakes?” to “Does Aquaman smell like fish?” is […]

A loving bond grows between the two unlikely friends

The Scarecrow. by Beth Ferray

September 11, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Erin and Terry Fan are at it again with their lovely illustrations in The Scarecrow. These works of art are the right colors, tone and filled with details that fit the theme and feel of the story. And while the story is a tad too sugary (in parts) for me, the illustrations help calm that effect. With that said, Beth Ferry created a lovely book about love, friendship and possibly you could even say that it is a little bit about adoption as […]

One book, 10 friends and a heck of a good time

How to Two by David Soman

June 12, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

First look at How to Two makes it look like a book about kids playing. And it. However, David Soman twists it up a bit with the how the kids start to play. Over all this is a terribly clever book. It has rich, deep, solid illustrations. The story works well for a classroom or one-on-one reading. It is educational and fun. What it is not, however, is one of my OMG LOOOOVE this book! The idea of counting from one to ten by each […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

Help Our Mission