Sydney Smith – Cannonball Read 17

A little rain

Island Storm by Brian Floca

April 11, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Island Storm by Brian Floca and Sydney Smith is an interesting picture book. I read via an online reader copy and it is due later in July 2025. While the story itself was not my favorite, I really enjoyed the illustrations. They set the tone well, making action out of a piece of paper (or screen). I was not sure how to say it, therefore I took the publisher’s description and had (I believe an AI program) come up with something. And that something is: […]

Does Santa Celebrate Christmas?

Santa's First Christmas by Mac Barnett

October 15, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Sydney Smith is not a new idea (how does Santa celebrate/does Santa celebrate Christmas), but the way they present it is fun and clever. Maybe it was not WOW but I chuckled. After all, if the elves won’t let Santa eat the cookies for You-Know-Who who comes tonight, HOW will they get eaten? You see, one Christmas Eve the elves decide (after many years of watching Santa work all year, work all that one night, sleep […]

Generations

My Baba's Garden by Jordan Scott

Babo: A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day by Astrid Kamalyan

Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

November 1, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

What do you do when you have a picture book online reader copy marathon? You read them, then decide which ones to write up. And these stories about different generations coming together are just a small sample of what was on my reading plate. Both of my grandmothers were odd. After all, they married my grandfathers. And you don’t know odd until you have met the man the neighborhood called “the crazy old man with the ski pole” or the one who told the president […]

A Best Illustrated book for the Adults

Small in the City by Sydney Smith

November 13, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Be in the right mind frame when you are reading Small in the City. As, frankly, Sydney Smith created a downright depressing story. At first you think the narrator is talking to you the reader about how they, the narrator is small, and you the reader are small, too. Therefore, being in the city can be a scary thing if you are not used to it. Then perhaps you think maybe the child is speak to a bird, or even a homeless person due to […]

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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