Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Join the Yay for YA Discussion About YA Books Now  

Mary was a little ogre, little ogre, little ogre ….

How to Be a Proper Ogre by Kelly Dipucchio and Janie Bynum

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The book How to Be a Proper Ogre by Kelly Dipucchio and Janie Bynum (as illustrator) will come out in June 2026. I read it via an online reader. At first I was not sure I would like the book. I mean it was pretty obvious that the ogre baby that was going to be born (note: mom, dad, other readers of the book you might have to explain babies do not come out of the muddy swamp, but ogre babies do) and they were […]

The World of Raissa Figueroa

Real to Me by Minh Le

What My Daddy Loves by Raissa Figueroa

We Are One by Jackie Azua Kramer

You Will Do Great Things by Amerie

Oona in the Artic by Kelly Dipucchio

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I probably could write at least 250 words on each of these Raissa Figueroa titles, but I won’t. I will let you know about them in one review. They have just come out or will later in 2023. The first is Real to Me by Minh Le and Figueroa illustrated. This story we know because it is about imaginary friendship. Yet, there are twists and turns as well. There are two friends. One is imaginary. But, like all good imaginary friends, they are real to […]

Capybara might have 4,383 friends, but I only had time for three reviews

Extra Ezra Makes and Extra-Special Friend. by Kara Lareau

Oona and the Shark (book two) by Kelly Dipucchio

Capybara Is Friends with Everyone by Maddie Frost

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I did not have high hopes for Extra Ezra Makes and Extra-Special Friend. It looked goofy and off-putting. But when I got into it, despite the um… less than “all there” looking students at Ezra’s school, the story did capture my interest and the illustrations worked for the humor needed. Kara Lareau has written a picture book about friendship, and what not to do. This idea is not new, but because Ezra is a special young person, the theme fits the sensibilities of today.  Ezra […]

Spunk is the name of the game!

Julia’s House Moves On by Ben Hatke

Oona by Kelly DiPucchio

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Spunk is the name of the game with Julia and Oona. Two different gals, but who both know how to “get-r-done!” Julia’s House Moves On is the latest in the Julia books by Ben Hatke (an author who covers several age ranges with their books, this being for the 5 and up crowd). This darn cute story about “best laid plans” and how things will work out for the better just is silly, funny and educational. As the joke says, “You want to make God […]

Gone to the dogs

Antoinette by Kelly DiPucchio

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Antoinette is probably more a 2.5 than a three. There is something missing for me. Plus, the illustrations and I just are not meshing as I would have liked. Kelly DiPucchio is the author of the companion book Gaston as well as this one. If you do not know who Gaston is, that is fine. His story is told as needed to fit Antoinette’s story. However, you do not necessarily need to know who he was. But, of course, it does not hurt to have […]

Let’s Clean Up!

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Manny is back in Super Manny Cleans Up! Kelly DiPucchio and Stephanie Graegin have created a story that is all about environmentalism. Manny and Gertie are seeing that there is a lot of trash in their local park and decide to do something very bold and important: to clean it up. With help from their friends (some real and some not so real) they clean up! The story is sweet. You think it is going to be another story about friendship and using their imagination. […]



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