Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

People are Strange when you’re an alien

Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature by Nathan W. Pyle

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cbr13bingo FAUNA  Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature is classic Nathan W. Pyle. This time around, instead of the more adult images of his comic strip, there is a more “kid friendliness” to the story as it is set in a “full length” picture book. This allows for all ages to enjoy this adventure. Our theme could have been seen in a strip but has been expanded for this presentation. The Offspring and The Lifegiver (two aliens of blue coloring and questionable attire wearing, […]

Play Time

Playing Wicked by Alex R. Kahler

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Playing Wicked is a lovely book that is creating a safe place for queer culture. However, it is also just a book about play and imagination. The theme of a non-traditional gender role is naturally presented. It is not preachy and there are layers. Alex R. Kahler’s main character, Dante, likes playing at being all types of characters. But sometimes he wants to be the wicked one. And not just any wicked character, but the wicked Queen. Dante is a typical kid who knows that […]

Some pods and a couple of friends blast off for adventure

Gurple and Preen: A Broken Crayon Cosmic Adventure by Linda Sue Park

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When you like an author, you want to love everything they write. However, Linda Sue Park and Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s newest picture book, Gurple and Preen: A Broken Crayon Cosmic Adventure crumbled a tad.  While I adore the illustrations of Ohi, the story Park presented was only so-so for me. But kids who like to draw and grand imaginations will appreciate it. The story is simple, a couple of characters, called Gurple and Preen, need to prepare a spaceship for the crew. But several issues […]

Old toys aren’t discarded: They’re re-loved.

Dragon Meets Boy by Michael Slack

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cbr12bingo Repeat is: Dragon Meets Boy (because that cool purple/violet cover) The title is a direct quote from the Kirkus Reviews of 04/15/2020 Did you a) like Toy Story (especially Toy Story 3)? Or b) Did you cry when (spoiler) Andy gave Buzz and Woody to the little girl? Or c) Think Velveteen Rabbit has a good message? If you said yes, then you know a bit about Dragon Meets Boy and its (somewhat sad) ending. (Other spoiler: Dragon does not have the Rabbits fate […]

Fight with all your might that un-friend, the Night

Fight the Night by Tomie dePaol

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The cbr12bingo No Money! slot is the easiest one for me. Reader copies are scattered all over my workspace! It’s a miracle I can get anything done. And one freebie was this classic Tomie dePaola picture book. Fight the Night is an early Tomie dePaola work released back in February for today’s fan. While you know it is dePaola, the art is less polish than his later work. This is because the book is created in an “old school” art format with actually very little […]

Read a little story with me

Your Turn, Adrian by Helena Oberg

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Teachers, I think this might be a book for you. It is aimed at the child reader, but I am not sure a kid would appreciate all the subtleness.  Your Turn, Adrian has a story that is simple. All ages can read but the concept is deep. There are illustrations that tell the main story by giving the ambiance of the time, place, people and of course, the main character. While I cannot think of who I could recommend it to, I feel people need […]



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