holidays – Page 3 – Cannonball Read 17

The community of solstice

Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and Elisa Paganelli

February 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I am not jumping up and down and saying Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (currently available, but I read via an online reader copy) is the best solstice book ever, but I am jumping in to say this is a nice and slightly different approach to the subject. What I have seen for solstice books tend to show more winter scenes and events done to celebrate the seasonal moment. When we find the shortest day of the year, […]

Picture books! Picture books! Take a look!

Night Flight by David Barclay Moore and Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

One Diwali Day: Festivals of the World by Dev Kothari and Aditi Anand

January 30, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Picture books! Picture books! Here give ‘em a look. Night Flight by David Barclay Moore and illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (due late September/early October 2025) Why talk about a book so far out? Because it is something that will be worth the wait. It is a lovely illustrated bedtime story that is sweet, inclusive and modern. The use of a prehistoric animal we do not usually get is a nice touch as well. We have a same sex couple of dads, and the family […]

Don’t pass on these Passover books

An Invitation to Passover by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen and Mariia Kolker

Why On This Night? : A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration by Rahel Musleah and Louise August

January 28, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Both of the Passover books in this review are from February 2024, however, I still had online reader copies of both. The first, An Invitation to Passover by Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen and illustrated by Mariia Kolker was read in full, while the second, Why On This Night? : A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration by Rahel Musleah, and Louise August was skimmed. With that said, both seem to be really good Passover stories. Olitzky’s story is a younger introduction to the […]

To laugh at

How to Make a Lion Laugh (How to Make Them Laugh) by Chris Cate

Ho-Ho-Ho-Larious Christmas Jokes (How to Make Them Laugh) by Chris Cate

January 28, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A while back I wrote a review for a couple of Chris Cate’s kids joke books. The following two are both due in September of 2025, one ready for the Christmas holidays and the other for the child in your life who likes jokes. How to Make a Lion Laugh (How to Make Them Laugh) and Ho-Ho-Ho-Larious Christmas Jokes (How to Make Them Laugh) are two new joke books I read via an online reader copy. They are not the “WOW these are the best […]

Anda one book; anda two book; anda three!

The Eidi Bag by Shazia Afzal

The Jellyfish Bus by Suhyeon Lee

What if Marty Doesn’t Like My Party? by Katie Arthur

January 17, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Three books I enjoyed, but am not really able to give a full review to each individual are below. This is because if you try to write up a “full review” you just end up telling the story. And then, you, the reader of this review, will not want to read the actual books! (Each one was read via an online reader copy.) Starting with The Eidi Bag by Shazia Afzal and illustrated by Shiva Delsooz, we have a book (currently available) that dives into […]

Ghosts and Halloween are nothing to fear, but what about another holiday cheer?

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler

The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise by Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler

January 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In 2020 The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt was published. And according to its publisher description, it became an instant Halloween classic. In July 2025 a new gift edition will be published. I am not sure how this differs from the original as I read this as an online reader copy. But regardless of the extras it might have, it will still be the same sweet book about being yourself and the adventures you will have because of it. The story is sweet and […]

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.

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