Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Around the world in a book

Lunar New Year (Celebrations & Festivals) by Natasha Yim

Martina Has Too Many Tias by Emma Otheguy

The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin

Lali’s Flip-Flops by Farhana Zia

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I was in the mood for picture books, and when I went looking for one, I found four. (I was surprised I only found four). And when I started to really look at them, I realized they were all culturally based.  And due to the shorter nature of them, it would be hard to write individual reviews, so here is a “Around the World ” in four books themed review. All are currently available and all are good reads and I will probably read the […]

Faith and fun

Zain’s Super Friday by Henna Khan

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While Zain’s Super Friday is not my all time favorite book, it is up there for two reasons. The first is that it has at least two layers and the second is that it deals with representation in a positive manner.   Zain is a young boy who is ready to go-go-go! on Friday morning. However, his father must work, and when he is done, it is time for prayers. We are exposed to the Muslim culture in a positive way. There is no racism, just […]

Presenting Olive Chen!

Oh, Olive! by Lian Cho

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Want a funny, sweet story about being yourself? Or a book that reminds you of Olivia the Pig with paints and color? You need Oh, Olive! This book, by Lian Cho (author and illustrator) might be the one you want. The story itself is familiar, but the way the author has presented it is clever and new. The art is fresh and silly, but keeps things in perspective.  Our Olive cannot paint a shape. Not a square like her father, nor a triangle like her […]

Orit Bergmana writes a book

Simon Says Good Night by Orit Bergman

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When I first saw the cover of Simon Says Good Night my first thought was that it was an awkward cover. My gut reaction was that it is a “cuter” version of a “Sambo” character (instead of the stereotypical dark character with exaggerated features, the skin was a light chocolate milk, with rosy cheeks giving it an Italian clown look). That alone actually made me want to read it, as I know I really should not judge a book by its cover. When I saw […]

This kid has a better chance of getting to Broadway then I do Main Street and I *live* on Main!

Broadway Baby by Russell Miller

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When I started Broadway Baby my first thought was well, this is cut…. Whoa! That’s a bit off-putting!  The tone of the book is a 45-year-old man talking to us, but the character is wearing snazzy diapers and fabulous clothing. I got vibes of all the promos and images of Man From Oz (as I have not seen it) and realized there are several Broadway hits in the imagery. Russell Miller and Judith A. Proffer set out to honor the bright lights, and regardless of […]

ChooChoo! I’m going home!

The Train Home by Dan-Ah Kim

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I grew up in a town (not a city), in a house (not an apartment), but I had a sister who bothered me, parents who did parent stuff, and my grandparents lived upstairs. Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings I never slept in, not because of the excitement, but because my grandmother’s kitchen was over my bedroom and I could hear her mashing, chopping, and walking about (thin walls and a grandmother who got into her work make for an interesting combination).  But I can relate to […]



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