Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Read Me

Monsterlogica: A menagerie of monsters, beasts and magical beings by Martin Maudsley and Victoria Topping

The Big Book of Useless History Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable History Facts You Won't Be Taught in School by Kay Wolfersperger, Liz Kay, Lauren Radley, Neon Squid, and Vicky Armstrong

February 12, 2026 by BlackRaven 1 Comment

It is that time of year when the publishers are promoting their future releases. Two of those books that were highlighted are below in this combined review. Neither had a finished online readers copy available, but what they did have made me terribly excited When I started Monsterlogica: A menagerie of monsters, beasts and magical beings by Martin Maudsley and illustrator Victoria Topping (due September 2026) I was not sure of it. Another monster book? Eh. I mean, sure monsters are fun, they could add […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, History, Non-Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: ancient, Concepts, Encyclopedias, Kay Wolfersperger, Kay Wolfersperger, Liz Kay, Lauren Radley, Neon Squid, and Vicky Armstrong, Lauren Radley, Liz Kay, Lore, Martin Maudsley, Martin Maudsley and Victoria Topping, Neon Squid., News from MsWas, Paranormal & Supernatural, reference, Useless Knowledge, Vicky Armstrong, Victoria Topping

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:56 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, History, Non-Fiction, Poetry · Tags: ancient, Concepts, Encyclopedias, Kay Wolfersperger, Kay Wolfersperger, Liz Kay, Lauren Radley, Neon Squid, and Vicky Armstrong, Lauren Radley, Liz Kay, Lore, Martin Maudsley, Martin Maudsley and Victoria Topping, Neon Squid., News from MsWas, Paranormal & Supernatural, reference, Useless Knowledge, Vicky Armstrong, Victoria Topping ·
Rating:
· 1 Comment

Balance

The Tightrope Wanderer by Federica Ortolan and Marco Leoni

February 10, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Ironically, not feeling well while reading an online reader copy might have helped me love the story even more than I would have if I was in perfect health. You see, The Tightrope Wanderer by Federica Ortolan and illustrator Marco Leoni would have probably been just another story about a person who did what he loved, grew old and then moved on. And it would have been nice, but nothing special. Instead, I came away with an appreciation for it that I am not really […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Health, History, Mystery, Poetry, Religion Tagged With: Circus, Concepts, Federica Ortolan, Federica Ortolan and Marco Leoni, Marco Leoni, Performing Arts, self-esteem, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:49 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Health, History, Mystery, Poetry, Religion · Tags: Circus, Concepts, Federica Ortolan, Federica Ortolan and Marco Leoni, Marco Leoni, Performing Arts, self-esteem, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Give a hoot or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes

Owl Capone by Christy Ewers and Rob Sayegh Jr.

February 10, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I read and have read (and watched too many movies, television shows, plays) too many mysteries and gangster themed items. Or so it felt when I picked up Owl Capone by Christy Ewers and Rob Sayegh Jr. My first thought was Owl Capone? OH boy! This is going to be scary. What does he actually serve in his sandwich shop? Is he going to make you a sandwich you can’t refuse? And yes, there are a lot of spins of the “Capone” innuendo, with some […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: animals, birds, Christy Ewers, Christy Ewers and Rob Sayegh Jr., Concepts, friendship, Rob Sayegh Jr., Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:48 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: animals, birds, Christy Ewers, Christy Ewers and Rob Sayegh Jr., Concepts, friendship, Rob Sayegh Jr., Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Coming to a Bookstore Near You

Prickles and Prides by Wendy Barron

Hooray for My Brain! by Paul Meisel

February 9, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I am not always a science person, but when I find one that I like, it sticks with me and is usually a children’s book. Two such books are reviewed below. One is about animals in both fiction illustrations and factual humor and the other is about the nature of the human brain for younger readers. Both were read via online reader copies and the first is due early April 2026 and the second later in the month.. As much as I enjoyed Prickles and […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: #brain, anatomy, animals, Body, Concepts, nature, Paul Meisel, Wendy Barrón

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:39 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry · Tags: #brain, anatomy, animals, Body, Concepts, nature, Paul Meisel, Wendy Barrón ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Hyena butter and other scents

Who's Making That Big STINK?! by Darrin Lunde and Erica J. Chen

January 12, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

While I was reading Who’s Making That Big STINK?! (as an online reader copy) I wanted to laugh at everything. The smells we learn about made me giggle (musk oxes have a urine smell that the ladies think is oh so fiiine), and the illustrations are clever such as the look on the tigers faces as they smell butter popcorn (I mean, can you blame them?), and then there is the the sea hares name (not to mention it looks nothing like the sea or […]

Filed Under: Comedy/Humor, Non-Fiction Tagged With: animals, Concepts, Darrin Lunde, Darrin Lunde and Erica J. Chen, Erica J. Chen, questions, senses

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:15 · Genres: Comedy/Humor, Non-Fiction · Tags: animals, Concepts, Darrin Lunde, Darrin Lunde and Erica J. Chen, Erica J. Chen, questions, senses ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

After you moo, baa and lalala

A Dance with Santa Claus by Sandra Boyton

Smooches! by Sandra Boyton

Iguana Miss You! by Sandra Boyton

When Pigs Fly!: A Song for Dreamers by Sandra Boyton

December 10, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

When my nephews were little I used to read Moo, Baa, Lalala by Sandra Boyton to them. I would read it so many times that I almost could read it without having to actually look at the book itself. Now, I need to make sure my great-niece has it so I can continue the tradition of reading to her (and having way too much fun making voices and sounds with her). And I will also be able to add a few new ones (or at […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: animals, celbrations, christmas, Concepts, dancing, Holiday, music, Sandra Boyton, Santa, smooches

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:553 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Poetry · Tags: animals, celbrations, christmas, Concepts, dancing, Holiday, music, Sandra Boyton, Santa, smooches ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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