Cannonball Read 14

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Down in the (city) in a little bitty pool Swam several little fishies (or kids in this case)

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

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This adorable face looked up at me when I was looking at books in a catalog (okay, I know I’m old, but it was an online catalog, so no gruff okay?). It was of middle-schooler Bree. She was staring up and out with these sweet brown eyes, an impish smile, and a confidence I wanted to meet. So, meet her I did in Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas. What on the surface is a cute story of middle school woes with a little history included […]

Reading Can Give you more than an education

Carter Reads the Newspaper: The Story of Carter G. Woodson, Founder of Black History Month by Deborah Hopkinson

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Carter Reads the Newspaper: The Story of Carter G. Woodson, Founder of Black History Month is a longer picture book, therefore, it might not be the best for an active child. It is filled with an accessible tone to the subject of the life and times of Woodson. The older listener (ages five and up) would be perfect. And even though it is in a picture book format ages seven to nine could use as a reference, but not as the only source. The book […]

Politics: It ain’t for old white dudes anymore

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes

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Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes, came out in summer of 2020. The book highlights the life of Harris from a child to the end of her run for president. I am not sure how updated the final results were, as I was reading a reader copy, but in the end, that is a little less important than how she became the first woman of color to hold her position. The fact that we follow a young girl named after a flower from […]

The Public World and the Private Domain

The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed

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Annette Gordon-Reed uncovers the family history of the Hemingses of Monticello, who are known as the slaves of Thomas Jefferson – though their story encompasses more than that. I knew a bit about Sally Hemings and her relationship with Jefferson, but the author goes beyond this notable person to expand her focus to her entire family. In many ways the Hemingses are remarkable for their blood relationship with Jefferson’s wife Martha and how that affected their treatment, but in others they were just like the thousands […]

An American Wine History

The Wild Vine by Todd Kliman

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Bingo 19: White Whale This book has possibly been on my shelf for 10 years; I can’t remember when I bought it, but it’s a hardback with a Borders sticker. And The Wild Vine was published in 2010, so I’m guessing it hadn’t been out too long when I picked it up. Either way, even if you go with when Borders went out of business, this book has been on my shelf a while. It’s framed as a journalist setting out to chronicle the not […]

What inspires you?

Rosie the Riveter: The Legacy of an American Icon by Sarah Dvojack

Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen

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It is “can’t write 250 words for both books, but even if I could they should be together” review time. Both books are for older children up to adults. There is not a lot of traditional adventure or action, but that should not take away from the fact these are strong stories that can be used in the classroom or at home readings. They can be used to women’s history month (though only Rosie has a past, even if she is not officially a “real” […]



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