Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


The journey of words

A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott

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Recently I learned that author (of such titles as The Lost Colony of Roanoke and It’s All about Me-Ow: A Young Cat’s Guide to the Good Life) and illustrator (such works as Into the Woods by James Lapine and Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson) Hudson Talbott, had passed away. I was, of course, saddened to hear of the news, but was basically unaware (with a few exceptions) of his work. And, yes, I was sorry that it took his death to put him on my […]

Your identity

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair by Ryan Rae Harbuck

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The title When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair is confusing at first. But once I got into the things, I realized two things. One, there must have been a translation (the flow of the text was off for me, and that’s usually because of a translation) and the second the idea is that the girl wants to be a chair because it is useful, it belongs, it is good. This is compared to how she feels about herself, which is maybe […]

Stick around and see what’s behind door number three

Emily Saw a Door by Mel Rosenberg

Robin and the Stick by E. B. Goodale

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Recently two books (one due mid April 2026, the other late February/early April 2026; both read via an online reader) I read did not “grab me” in the way I had hoped. They were nice, but I was not the audience for them. I figure that probably a toddler to about six or so would be a good reach. They would be good bedtime stories or just relaxing stories. Both have interesting concepts and deal with self-confidence and imagination. Both have their own distinct style […]

The courage to sing

Songbird in the Light: A Picture Book by Billy Porter and Chris Clarkson

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Access to online readers is not really an issue for me if I play around with my work computer. However, I am not able to access all that I do wish to read. Thankfully I had access to Songbird in the Light: A Picture Book by Billy Porter and Chris Clarkson. This March 2026 picture book talks about the life and times of performer Billy Porter in a roundabout way. We do not do a deep dive, but we get the overall picture of someone […]

Grateful for Soccer

Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell

Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola

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I cannot think of two more opposite books than Morgan Plays Soccer by Anne Rockwell (illustrated by Paul Meisel) and Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola. Actually  I probably could if I really thought about it, but right now out of the books I have read and are reviewing here, I can’t. You see Morgan is about a new kid who gets himself involved in playing soccer. With only a soccer jersey as his connection to the game. But he learns it is fun, […]

Buck some stereotypes and be you

My Guncle and Me by Jonathan Merritt

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I saw the title on my online reader list (though it is available), My Guncle and Me. Okay, (I thought) another gay uncle story. Cool. There are a few for kids, usually the uncle is pretty flamboyant, and that’s the moral of the story (it’s okay to be you), but let’s see if this is different. And, it is. Yes, the uncle is still flamboyant (not “as flamboyant” as say the drag queen uncle in the book, Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero by Ellie Royce […]



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