Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Presenting Hesse and Karas awesome collaboration

Night Job by Karen Hesse

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Night Job by Karen Hesse and illustrated by G. Brian Karas was almost put aside to read. It is not due until later October 2025, but I needed to see how these two would work together. I think of Hesse as a slightly more serious author and Karas as a lighter illustrator. Not saying it couldn’t work, but first thoughts are first thoughts. And they became probably one of my new favorite duos. The story is a bit on the lighter side allowing Karas almost […]

My mummy has fleas, she got them from meeeeee!

Mummy & Me: A Monster's Tale by Danesh Mohiuddin

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The Mummy & Me: A Monster’s Tale by Danesh Mohiuddin is the typical child being a child and trying to be a good child, but well, you know things happen, but with not so typical characters, story. Mummy’s love their children but sometimes it is tiring. Even when they do their best, like using their indoor howls (or so they think). But dancing is fun. Slurping lunch is a delight. And getting ready for bed when the sun starts to shine is divine! And in […]

The lengths two girls will take to go to school 

Yenebi's Drive to School by Sendy Santamaria

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Yenebi’s Drive to School by Sendy Santamaria is about Yenebi, her sister Melanie, and mom drive to school every morning across the US-Mexico border. The end. Except it isn’t. You would not think that a trip to school would be as full as it is for Yenebi, but it is. It is wildly adventurous.  Waking at four in the morning to get ready for the drive. Beating on if it will take two or three hours to get there. Wait? Two to three HOURS? You […]

Diverseness for the younger crowd.

Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart

Hair Twins by Raakhee Mirchandani

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What do you do when you want to show diverseness to your child, but they are not ready for some big, non-fiction encyclopedic knowledge book? You grab a picture book. And the below titles are perfectly diverse in that fun picture format. Rainbow: A First Book of Pride was originally from 2019. Therefore, it is just an introduction to the rainbow flag with none of the “extras” we see today. It is a way to show how the GLBTQ+ community is not separate, but part of […]

Small Things

Thank You, Miyuki by Marie Roxanne Galliez

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Thank You, Miyuki by Marie Roxanne Galliez has some amazing illustrations by Seng Soun Ratanavanh. Bursting with colors that bring to life the Japanese world of Miyuki’s grandfather, the world of patience and being in the moment is introduced. This third book by the duo shows Miyuki a rambunctious, rowdy child who is terribly active. Curious and full of imagination, she tries to do tai chi with her grandfather, but falls over. And every time he tries to meditate there is Miyuki asking away. During […]

Two Words, whole lot of meaning

Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel

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Hands Up!  is one of those books I wish I did not have to rate. It is every rating and it is no rating. There are parts to love, dislike, learn from and wonder at. The phrase “your mileage may vary” or course, comes to mind. Breanna J. McDaniel and Shane Evans created a book that everyone will relate to this book on their own level. Their own likes, dislikes, experiences and preconceived notions will come into play and that will decide your level of […]



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