Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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I’m on a role with Author Leila Boukarim

Rima and the Painter by Leila Boukarim

Lost Words: An Armenian Story of Survival and Hope by Leila Boukarim

Sundays Are for Feasts by Leila Boukarim

April 7, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Once upon a time there was a day where picture books were read. Each one was special in their own way, but since they were picture books I didn’t want to weaken their goodness with a too long review for each one individually, Therefore, I put them in one review. Each one was read via an online reader copy. I will start with Rima and the Painter by Leila Boukarim and illustrated by Melissa Iwai. Due later in July 2025, this book is about a […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Cooking/Food, Fiction, Health, History Tagged With: 1915-1923, Arab Women, Armenian, art, family, Immigration & Refugees, Lebanon, Leila Boukarim, Melissa Iwai, Middle Eastern, Migration, mothers, Multigenerational, rmenian Genocide, Ruaida Mannaa, Sona Avedikian

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:176 · Genres: Children's Books, Cooking/Food, Fiction, Health, History · Tags: 1915-1923, Arab Women, Armenian, art, family, Immigration & Refugees, Lebanon, Leila Boukarim, Melissa Iwai, Middle Eastern, Migration, mothers, Multigenerational, rmenian Genocide, Ruaida Mannaa, Sona Avedikian ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Getting your Zen on

Zen for Kids: 50+ Mindful Activities and Stories to Shine Loving-Kindness in the World by Laura Burges

February 9, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

CBR15Passport, author unknown to me. Zen for Kids: 50+ Mindful Activities and Stories to Shine Loving-Kindness in the World by Laura Burges and  Melissa Iwai  is a story of mindfulness and Zen actives that can grow with your child. Each story is adapted from a classic fairy tale, legend or from stories of Buddha, plus other inspirations. Items you will need to enact some of the practices presented are mentioned, journal activities as well as a haiku at the end of each story (created by […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Religion, Short Stories, Young Adult Tagged With: Buddhist, CBR15Passport, Laura Burges, Melissa Iwai, Mindful Activities, Philosophy, Zen for Kids

BlackRaven's CBR15 Review No:91 · Genres: Children's Books, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Religion, Short Stories, Young Adult · Tags: Buddhist, CBR15Passport, Laura Burges, Melissa Iwai, Mindful Activities, Philosophy, Zen for Kids ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

What is your relationship with your grandfather?

Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai

April 19, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I find it amusing when I want to review an early/easy reader. After all, it is funny that a book that probably has less than 250 words needs a review of 250 words. Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai has a lot going on in it. There is the daughter/mother relationship. There is the granddaughter/grandfather relationship. And there is the culture relationship. You learn Gigi is biracial (Japanese mother, white father) by just seeing it. There is no HEY LOOK! I AM DIFFERENT yelling off […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction Tagged With: education themes, family, granddaughter, grandfathers, grandparents, Japanese culture & language, Melissa Iwai

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:158 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction · Tags: education themes, family, granddaughter, grandfathers, grandparents, Japanese culture & language, Melissa Iwai ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Food and Folks

Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya

January 6, 2022 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

A local school was purchasing a few titles for their library. I was unaware of the picture books Dumplings for Lili and La Princessa and the Pea. Therefore, I gave them a quick peak when they came in. Both were two of the sweetest books I have read all year! (Okay, got the year joke out early.) These two books are a modern fairytale and a reimaging of a classic. Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai is a lovely, illustrated book about a young girl […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fiction Tagged With: cultures, families, folktale, friendship, grandmothers, Melissa Iwai, Princess and the Pea, spanish, Susan Middleton Elya

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:7 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fiction · Tags: cultures, families, folktale, friendship, grandmothers, Melissa Iwai, Princess and the Pea, spanish, Susan Middleton Elya ·
Rating:
· 2 Comments


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