Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Dinosaurs and friends

Dinosaurs for Dylan by Tracy Gulovsen

Counting Up the Olive Tree : A Palestine Number Book by Golbarg Bashi

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I have been finding samples in my online readers. And while that allows me access to so many titles, it also means I have to get the final copy but they are not due until November and October 2024! Yet, I am excited to share what I can, as you will need to be in line with me at the local independent bookstore getting copies.  Tracy Gulovsen and Renate Vermeulen-Potter have Dinosaurs for Dylan (due mid November 2024). It is a sweet story that I […]

I want to find the right audience for this book

Boogie in the Bronx! (Barefoot Singalongs) by Jackie Azua Kramer

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Unfortunately, Boogie in the Bronx! (Barefoot Singalongs) did not “do it” for me. In the long run, there is nothing wrong with Jackie Azua Kramer’s story, but the elements did not mesh for me. The first issue is I was reading it (via an online reader copy, book is due October 2023) and not having it sung/read to me. I think that will make a big different. The Spanish words will be correctly spoken (even though there is a pronunciation key under the word) and […]

I know it is 298 days until Halloween but this is a year-round Treat!

The Ghosts Went Floating by Kim Norman

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I am going to say it. I am not ashamed. I almost peed myself laughing at The Ghosts Went Floating. I thought my coworkers would come into the office and think that I had officially finally lost it for good this time. But I did not care! I would just have told them that Kim Norman is a genius! Norman took “The Ants go Marching” song and gave it the most awesome of awesome twists: put that tune to a Halloween theme. I have seen […]

Counting 20 women of Awesomeness

321 Awesome! 20 Fearless Women Who Dared to be Different by Eva Chen

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I was pleasantly surprised with this 321 Awesome! 20 Fearless Women Who Dared to be Different by Eva Chen. Books that list influential women can be a bit preachy or only have the same women always used. Yet, not only does it have “popular” people one would know, it has people you do not normally see in a book about women as influencers. However, there are a few people that not everyone will agree should be included (JK Rowling, Temple Grandin, Rhianna).  This variety is what […]

Lucky 13

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Wade Bradford has created something subtlety different with There’s a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor.  It has some interesting twists (the story comes full circle by the end). The counting aspect is surprisingly fun. I was not really aware of that until a couple floors up and then was, “DUH! It is part counting book.” The ending has its charm (that afore mentioned twist). Kevin Hawkes adds a delightful touch to the story with their illustrations. He is one of those artists that you can […]

Old Friend, New Style

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The thing about recent Kevin Henkes books is that I do not see the illustration styles of Chrysanthemum, Owen or Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse anymore. What I have come to know as his style is gone. Therefore, I do not say, “THAT is a Kevin Henkes book” and I am no longer drawn to them. However, this is in the style of the more recent books, so if you prefer that, this is perfectly a representation of his style. I picked up A Parade of […]



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