Jeanette Winter – Cannonball Read 17

The 3 Named Hippie Nun

Sister Corita's Words and Shapes by Jeanette Winter

Signs of Hope: The Revolutionary Art of Sister Corita Kent by Mara Rockliff

December 1, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Who was Sister Corita? To start with, she was a woman who would have three names by the end of her life, each representing that chapter her journey was in. Born Frances Elizabeth Kent, she would enter the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart at age 18, becoming Sister Mary Corita Kent, then after over 30 years, she would leave them and become Corita Kent. She was a creative person that made her students think, see/look, and do it outside of the box. During a time […]

Three biography reviews all in one place for your reading pleasure!

Dressing UP the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Jose Feeds the World: How a famous chef feeds millions of people in need around the world by David Unger

The Snow Man: A True Story by Jonah Winter

September 11, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I like biographies. Mostly because you have to be pretty much into the subject to write about people. Granted, not all the time (you might be a contracted writer for a series) but when you have someone like Edith Head, the odds are you are a fan. Otherwise why would you write something about a person that famous, but not very “mainstream?” Oh sure, we know a little about her from the Disney The Incredibles movies, but that is nothing like the real woman. And […]

Let me tell you about a secret

Nasreen’s Secrete School by Jeanette Winter

September 24, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Jeanette Winter’s style comes alive in this 2009 picture book, Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan. The colors of the illustrations are rich, deep, and plentiful. I have always appreciated how things are fanciful and realistic at the same time. This story is based on the story of a girl of Afghanistan, who of course, has had her and her family names changed to protect everyone. This book has come back into our knowledge due to recent events in the country. Worries that […]

Environmental Science for the younger crowd

Oil by Jonah Winter

December 16, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I dislike books that you cannot really rate because they are books that are emotionally linked to your own feelings, thoughts and biases. These books are personal to you and all I can say is how I feel about it. Oil by Jonah Winter is a personal book. If you are an environmentalist, you will be all over this book. You will appreciate the theme of showing the dangers of oil consumption and the impact it has on wildlife. There is no question the author […]

A man, his burros, and his books

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia by Jeanette Winter

October 28, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia caught my eye because of the vivid cover illustration. It hinted at being a Tomie de Paola story but was not actually feeling 100% right. On closer inspection I learned that this was a Jeanette Winter story. Now curious, I decided to take a minute and read said book. Biblioburro is a lovely story about the power of books. It is based on the true story of how one man’s love of books literally filled his home and he […]

What were you doing at age 15 and 16?

Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg's Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter

October 3, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I was worried that Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg’s Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter would be preachy. I was afraid it would get “controversial” and “too political” and lose the message in being “PC.” Honestly, I thought it might try to “push” an opinion on you one way or the other. However, it is a lovely and straight forward look at Ms. Thunberg and what she did and what she is doing. I have a feeling the text is as […]

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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