Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Ibtihaj Muhammad’s stories

The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab and Community (The Proudest Blue, 3) by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly

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The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab and Community (The Proudest Blue, 3) is by Olympic fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad, as well as S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly. This (as the  title suggests) their third book in the Proudest Blue series. I did not feel it covered the subject of wearing a hijab as fully as the other two books have, but it does bring that into play. What it does focus on is becoming brave with its main character, and bringing in the Islamic culture […]

A child named Jeffrey and one named Sam

Jeffrey Loves Blue by Lorretta Garbutt

Step by Step by Kat Boger

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I was not going to pair these two picture books together, but then realized that even if I could do a 250 worded review on each, they have the similar theme of doing hard things, of stepping outside their comfort zone. The way each character does the hard thing is different, but good for today’s contemporary audience.  (Please note both titles were read via online reader copies). Both books would work well as a one-on-one read or for a classroom setting. At first, I thought […]

How a storm made friendship

The Shelter: Deluxe 5th Anniversary Edition by Celine Claire

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I read via an online reader copy the fifth anniversary edition of The Shelter that is due in mid-October 2023.  I am not sure what might be new about this Celine Claire story, but I do know that somehow, I missed it when it first came out. Granted, I am not thinking this is the best book ever, but it is a solid book with equally strong illustrations by Qin Leng. The idea is an old story with a theme of giving to others, sharing […]

You are what you eat and more

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Costantia Manoli

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Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Costantia Manoli is a book about growing up and being different from the Emma’s and Jessica’s of her classroom. Her name is hard to pronounce (it does not sound as you think it would), people wonder why she has a funny sounding name, and why she does not have a sandwich but a whole tomato in her lunchbox, a tomato that squirts the seeds out onto her school clothes. Manoli takes us through being not only being out of place […]

This is no wonky donkey

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

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As I mentioned in another review, I read two radically different books this weekend. The first was Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteiu and the second, Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech. If you read my review of Boteiu’s book, you know that Creech and Boteiu have little to nothing in common with their themes in these two books. Saving Winslow is a cute story about love and protection. You are dealing with the theme of “you get attached to something/someone and the leave.” There […]

When cute plants go bad and arch nemesis are around each corner (kinda)

Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess

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I will start with the positive of Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess. First, I like Sara Goetter’s illustrations (for the most part). Sure, there is a piece here or there I was not a fan of, but overall, I liked what is presented. Second, I was digging the vibe that recalled a younger version of The Adventure Zone. And finally, I only really wanted to smack one of the characters for sheer annoyingness. Still, something was missing for me. As I said, the illustrations are […]



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