Values & Virtues – Page 3 – Cannonball Read 17

Save the World!

Stillwater and Koo Save the World (A Stillwater and Friends Book) by Jon J. Muth

January 4, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Early February 2023 we will have another Jon J. Muth picture book. Now, if you are like me, I loved Muth. After a while, though the stories became similar, but I still love the illustrations, which is why I was excited to see that Stillwater and Koo Save the World (A Stillwater and Friends Book) will be the newest edition the collection. Muth has our two pandas finding ways to “save the world.” Now, they might not be big, splashy events, but they are important, […]

One shiny red apple

Mine! by Candace Fleming

January 4, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

If you have a couple of children who enjoy reading, but not sharing you might want to give them this book. Or one book for each child you have. Because it they are like the mouse, deer, beer, rabbit, and fox of the story Mine! they will not want to share a treat as wonderful as this book. Or in the case of the animals, a red, delicious looking, crisp, round, sweet, apple that is hanging in the tree, ready to plop down and be […]

Bring out the Gnomes

The Magic Cap. by Mirelle Messier

December 20, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

It was a picture book kind of day and Edelweiss was very obliging with the future publications being available. One due late May/early April 2023 was The Magic Cap. This fairytale (possible retelling, but modern tones) is about two siblings who lived in a cottage next to the woods. This was long ago, and they had just themselves (Arlo and Isaura), their pet hedgehog, Crispin but little else. When Crispin becomes ill the children try to capture a gnome for help. Things do not work […]

Real villains

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

December 19, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

As of this writing/posting of the review for The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill I am only halfway through. I published before finishing as I had some ideas I wanted to put down as I was/am not completely sure why this book has critics excited. It is terribly slow, and the real action does not start to take place until the middle of the book. And then, when things are about to finally happen, the orphan that meets the Ogress is asleep with […]

Adaptations of Classic tales

A Taste of Honey: Kamala Outsmarts the Seven Thieves ( by Rebecca Sheir

The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest: Nasruddin Teaches the Town a Lesson by Rebecca Sheir

December 16, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A few reviews back I wrote about another A Circle Round Book by Rebecca Sheir. Each one has been illustrated by different people. Therefore, that change might help you enjoy one over the other. But also, the flow and tone of the story is slightly different and that can help one’s enjoyment of them. The Great Ballgame was illustrated by Joshua Pawis-Steckley and is based on Native American mythology and culture. A Taste of Honey: Kamala Outsmarts the Seven Thieves (illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat) has […]

Almost 6 miles

9 Kilometers by Claudio Aguilera

December 12, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I remember as a kid not wanting to get up and go to school. It was a chore and all I had to do was get up, eat a prepared breakfast, and get dressed. The sun (and my mom) was already up for at least an hour or two. I had to wait for the bus to drive oh five-ten minutes down the road. When they switched the route when I was older, it took 15-20 minutes. The only real struggle was rainy days or […]

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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