Sara Palacios – Cannonball Read 17

Welcome to my Two Books in One Review review

Thank You, School by Louise Borden

Finding My Wave by Alexandra Katona

October 6, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I found two books (hence the title) that were nice, cozy and enjoyable but I did not want to weaken reviewing either solo as I didn’t want to add fluff to them. Therefore, please enjoy these shorter reviews that hopefully do not leave out the good stuff. Thank You, School by Louise Borden and illustrator Paige Keiser due March 2026 Read via an online reader copy. Through a series of poems, children thank each person (from bus drivers to teachers) who help make their school […]

Around the world in a book

Lunar New Year (Celebrations & Festivals) by Natasha Yim

Martina Has Too Many Tias by Emma Otheguy

The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin

Lali’s Flip-Flops by Farhana Zia

July 3, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I was in the mood for picture books, and when I went looking for one, I found four. (I was surprised I only found four). And when I started to really look at them, I realized they were all culturally based. And due to the shorter nature of them, it would be hard to write individual reviews, so here is a “Around the World ” in four books themed review. All are currently available and all are good reads and I will probably read the […]

The fun of family

Hide and Shh!: A Not -So-Sneaky Sister Story About Inclusion by Christina Dendy

A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle

October 7, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

These books have a loose connecting theme. Not only are they picture books, but they are about things that we might not be exposed to often. I mean A Song of Frutas and Hide and Shh!: A Not -So-Sneaky Sister Story About Inclusion are about the fruit vendors of Cuban, with Spanish words mixed in and two siblings, one who lives with Down Syndrome, finding common ground (and the not exposed to is having a special needs sibling). I grew up with first cousins, a […]

What’s up with these picture books and their long titles?

Lola Out Loud: Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta by Jennifer Torres

September 16, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

How many stories are there about a girl named Lola? No, really, how many? It just seems like a lot, and usually, they are not the nicest gals (after all What Lola Wants, Lola Gets is not a song about giving things away). Well, in Lola Out Loud: Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta having Lola getting what she wants is not necessarily a bad thing. Because what she wants is to have justice. Jennifer Torres takes a little girl who helps her […]

And I thought it odd when my classmates when to NJ to visit family

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins

December 6, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border is a contemporary story on several levels. Of course, it is first a Christmasstory. Maria, Juan and their mother are going to see their Grandmother. They take a long trip to see her. And they bring presents. And second, it is a story about a family that must be creative about how they deliver said gifts, as they are separated by the border, the fence and the Border Patrol. Yet, this is a happy story […]

Flying

July 3, 2018 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Have you heard of Aida de Acosta? Few probably have, but even fewer did during her life. She was the first woman to fly a motorized aircraft. But due to “proper” young ladies never did such things, she kept it to herself until almost the mid-twentieth century. When Aida was a young girl on the streets of Paris, she saw an airship and the flying bug deeply bit her. She knew someday she would “soar” just like the man flying it. But she was not […]

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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