Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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When your Christmas is Halloween

Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari

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When I first saw the title Halloween Tree I thought the cover was not matching what I was thinking. What I was thinking about was Ray Bradbury’s novel of the same name. But then I wondered if it was possible to adapt it to a picture book format? Especially with such a cute cover? Yes, it is possible, but the real question is should it be adapted. Well, thankfully (I guess) it was not that Halloween Tree but its own unique story. Susan Montanari’s Halloween […]

Celebrate Ramadan

Ramadan for Everyone: A Muslim Community Story by Aya Khalil

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Again, I almost did not read a book. I have read several books about Ramadan, and thought that perhaps Ramadan for Everyone: A Muslim Community Story by Aya Khalil would be just like those. Turns out, it is and is not like other books. We have the concept of Ramadan, the events and things one does to honor Allah, but there is more as well. The young girl of the story has a voice that is different from other stories, and yet is familiar too. […]

When in a pinch use a banana

The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah by Laurel Snyder and Leanne Hatch

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After reading the book, Shrinking Violet by Laurel Snyder, I wondered what else they had written. I found The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah (illustrated by Leanne Hatch). It is currently available (it came out mid September 2025) but I was able to find an online reader copy. I might purchase a few copies for some adult friends and/or my local library as it had a fresh take that makes it “not another Hanukkah” story. Most Hanukkah books have an ideal setting for […]

More Christmas and Yule please

The Legend of the Christmas Witch by Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza

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With the book, The Legend of the Christmas Witch, I wanted more about Christmas and less, well, witch. I understand that Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza wanted to build up to the climax, but it made no real sense to me why things were called Christmas. First, she practices Yule celebrations. Second, we only see her being impatient, spoiled and naive. We do find Christmas with a Santa character, who is the witch’s beloved twin brother who turns out to be a bit of a […]

Some cheer

The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey

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As another companion to the stories The Old Truck and The Old Boat, (which I do not believe I have read) the book The Old Sleigh is added to the clever creators Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey stories. A horse-drawn sleigh against a snowy background is loaded with the firewood a boy and father cut and deliver to a small village. As the village grows and the sleigh starts to fall about as it ages, we see how the changes happen and though things have […]

We can still talk about summer books

Summer Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and Elisa Paganelli

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Recently I found an online reader copy of a title called Summer Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and Elisa Paganelli. They have a prequel or companion Winter Solstice Wish which I remember reading, but was not WOWed by it, but felt that it was enjoyable to read. However, I tried to read Summer, and could not finish it. Perhaps I was in the wrong mood for it. Perhaps I was not the reader for it. Perhaps I was thinking of Halloween and summer was […]



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