Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Lizzy and the Cloud

Lizzy and the Cloud by Terry Fan and Eric Fan

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Lizzy and the Cloud is written and illustrated by Terry Fan and Eric Fan. They are a couple of odd ducks to start with. Talented as heck, but sometimes I just do not “get them.”  They create stories that seem simple on the surface but are deeper. I am going to say there are a combination of themes in Lizzy and the Cloud which include love, taking care of pets, taking care of yourself, friendships, and death. Lizzy is a young girl who wants to […]

The story of two unhoused children

Home: A Story of Two Children Thrust Into Homelessness and Uncertain Housing Situations by Tonya Lippert

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Homelessness was not something talked about when I was young. I knew it happened, but at the same time had no concept of what that meant. Friends of the family were living in a tent for a while. There was the person who slept in the neighbor’s horse trailer when I was little. And I knew the stories of “hobbos” who used to come to my grandmother for food. But what did that mean? It was not until I was much older did the word […]

Hello Moon, It’s me!

hello, moon by Evan Turk

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I thought that hello, moon was going to be something sappy. Now, I do not mind something sweet, but when it is sappy sugary? I am not as quick to like it. However, Evan Turk’s picture book was sweet but not over the top. Oh, sure we have a little kid saying Hello to the Moon, but honestly, who has not done that at least once? And it is countered by the fact that not only are you having an emotional moment between child and […]

And the beat goes on

Beat, Beat, Thump by Allison Edwards

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What does anxiety feel like? In Beat, Beat, Thump Allison Edwards shows how one child deals with the situations that causes him worry and stress. Edwards does not give you a “one true wayism” but it does allow itself to fall there if you let yourself not realize this is just one person and one person’s reaction to the stimulation around them. The fact the child/narrator does say “me words” helps with this concept being just one way of relaxing and finding a peaceful place. […]

Touching the Impossible

The Impossible Mountain  by David Soman

I Touched the Sun by Leah Hayes

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The Impossible Mountain and I Touched the Sun have a slightly common theme. The main thing of each book is that of believing in yourself and trying impossible things. David Soman’s The Impossible Mountain was more fun for me. It had a more solid story and illustrations that spoke to me more strongly. That is not to say that I Touched the Sun by Leah Hayes was bad, it was just not my type of read.   I Touched the Sun is due May 2023. And […]

Memories and Grandmother Hazel

Witch Hazel by Molly Idle

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Witch Hazel by Molly Idle seemed like it was going to be something other than it was by the cover and what I had quickly read about it. I had no idea I would need tissues! You see, this is about a young girl and her grandmother and the beautiful times they have. Or had. As you see how the grandmother, Hazel, slowly starts to change as the seasons change. Without coming right out and saying it, you know that she has passed by the […]



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