Cannonball Read 16

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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My sister the elephant

The Secret Elephant : Inspired By a True Story of Friendship by Ellan Rankin

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You have heard of Winnie The Pooh and Wojtek the Bear from Brothers In Arms but did you know about the elephant named Sheila? (Or Violet? As I’m finding conflicting accounts, yet I’m going with Sheila as that is what is in The Secret Elephant : Inspired By a True Story of Friendship by Ellan Rankin.) Despite the name difference, the story is one of heroism at another level. And maybe a little silliness. Our young elephant is by themselves, except for their zookeeper. The […]

And here my basement only had a skunk

Things in the Basement by Ben Katke

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The rating of a four for Things in the Basement is because of the illustrations. While on the surface, Ben Hatke’s story and art are not huge  “wows” (the illustrations are not overly colorful, or detailed; the story is slow to build up), there is something about them that makes you want more. The focus you need for the illustrations means you need to read the images as the book itself is mostly wordless. There are some interesting twists and turns and the “creepy factor” […]

Feeling fear

Why Are We Afraid? by Fran Pintadera

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Finally a review about a book that is currently out and you do not have to wait a year (okay five months) for! Why Are We Afraid? is billed as  a children’s book. However, the more mature theme and the slightly adult illustrations make this story not for the very young or sensitive reader.  Frank Fran Pintadera’s story is interesting, and for the right reader, an interesting exploration of fears, but not easy to work with. Overall, the theme of fear done in a poetic […]

I think I’d like to be Flora’s aunt

Rosetown Summer by Cynthia Rylant

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cbr14bingo Font Level Two Cynthia Rylant is known for their cute, young stories. If you like having a Happily Ever After ending you will usually get it. And Rosetown Summer is no exception. This adorable novella is a book two (Rosetown was book one in the Rosetown Books) that can be read as a standalone. The joys of the familiar mix with the fear of the unknown and change, but as our main character travels along the road from fourth to fifth grades, she learns […]

We all have our fears

Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna

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A young girl has a small Fear with her all the time. It helps keep her safe. However, when she moves away, the Fear grows to an extent where it takes over. It will not let her even leave the house at times. And it makes her new school very difficult. She cannot imagine anyone understanding her, or her feelings.  However, the reader can see that there is a “little something” (in the form of a young boy) that seems to want to get to […]

Scars have stories

These Precious Scars by Emily Suvada

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I was reading on my delightful free Simon & Schuster account (which I recommend if you can read a book in a months’ time as they are only there for the month.  But you also get snippets of other books, and when sign up a free book of choice. I did (surprise) the young adult root but picked an adult book to read), and I came across These Precious Scars which I did not realize was not a “normal” book situation. First, it is part […]



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