Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Grateful for Soccer

Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell

Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola

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I cannot think of two more opposite books than Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell (illustrated by Paul Meisel) and Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola. Actually  I probably could if I really thought about it, but right now out of the books I have read and are reviewing here, I can’t. You see Morgan is about a new kid who gets himself involved in playing soccer. With only a soccer jersey as his connection to the game. But he learns it is fun, […]

For the dog lovers (you’ll need tissues for the funny and the sad moments)

Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak and Matt Myers

Where Are You, Brontë? by Tomie dePaola and Barbara McClintock

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Are you a dog person? Are you looking for two new books to read about dogs? Well the first book below has a theme of dog and sibling rivalry. And the second, well it is a bit more sad. It is about the loss of a beloved pet named Bronte by one of my all time favorite authors. Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Matt Myers (due early April 2025; read via an online reader is a cute story about sibling rivalry […]

Cannonball 2024

Kobe Eats Pizza! And Helps Make It, Too  by Ashley Wian

The Birds of Bethlehem  by Tomie dePaola

Black Girls A celebration of you! by Dominique Furukawa

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I kinda sort of made my first Cannonball in January 2024. Except it didn’t happen because though I had the last three books read, I did not have them written up. I could have done it before the last day of January, but I didn’t review everything I had read, as this year was for fun reading and reviews were second. Or I guess I could say I was waiting for three special ones.  So we’ll go with that and those books were only found on […]

Reissues of dePaola

The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog by Tomie dePaola

Marianna May and Nursey by Tomie dePaola

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My quick journal entry mentioned the death of Tomie dePaola. I recently found, three new (to me books). I haven’t read Fight the Night, yet, but did get a chance to read Marianna May and Nursey along with The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog. Many know dePaola as both the author and illustrator of the book. However, he has illustrated several books for others. The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog was created by Sarah Catherine Martin as […]

Wearing a haircut?

Haircuts for Little Lambs by Tomie dePaola

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I am not sure how I missed the book Haircuts for Woolsey’s by Tomie dePaola as I do enjoy his work. Now published under the name, Haircuts for Little Lambs I see why this might not have been one of his more popular stories. Totally done in dePaola’s style of illustrations and text, this is a fun story about Spring and how fickle it can be. Plus, there is one clever one grandmother who knows how to take care of a pesky problem.   However, I […]

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree, who invented thee?

Tomie dePaola's Christmas Tree Book by Tomie dePaola

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I am sure that I have mentioned before that I love Tomie dePaola! Even the books that are not as strong as some of my favorites are always delightful to read. dePaola always knows how to write a story on the level for anyone to enjoy and keeps one’s interests. While the publisher says it is for ages 4 to 8 I can see an older child enjoying it as well and of course adults will get a kick out it. This time, we learn […]



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