Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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I’ve honestly lost track how many times I have read one and hope I can repeat it with the other title

The Tree in Me by Corinna Luyken

Hello, Ocean! by Corinna Luyken

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Honestly, I have lost track of how many times I have read The Tree in Me by Corinna Luyken. I know I have read it at least once via an online reader and one reading of the finished book, but I am sure it has been more. In fact, it could be up to four or five times. And this is because I forget I read it, but as soon as I do I remember, I remember it was a pleasure to read each time. […]

Old Oak falls and the next chapter

Thank You, Old Oak by Britt Crow-Miller and Amy Schimler-Safford

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What makes you pick up a book to read? I have many reasons, but with Thank You, Old Oak by Britt Crow-Miller and Amy Schimler-Safford (illustrator) there were three main reasons. First, I had a copy in front of me. This picture book was available and it had/has a nice cover so I was drawn to it. Two, I enjoy Barefoot Press books. I do not always love them, but I do appreciate them. And finally there was a piece of the title or the […]

Impact of books and other really cool things

The Blue Jays That Grew a Forest by Lynn Street

Little Monk Writes Rain by Hsu-Kung Liu

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As you know I enjoy reading picture books. They are not just for the “kid crowd” as I have found (and highly encourage others  to do so, too) many books that give me information about something or someone I was unfamiliar with. I also find poetry, poetic prose, silliness and much more. But sometimes I am unable to write a “full review” so I must combine them to make one larger review. I do try to “theme” them, and I hope I did with the […]

Rooting out the truth

I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log by Lena Podesta

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Honestly, I don’t know about you but if I see a brown thing (yeah, went there too, but realized it was a log) in cartoon form I tend to look at it and assume I will not be interested in it. And even with the words NOT and BORING that still would not grab my attention. However, for some odd reason I decided to pick up I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log by Lena Podesta (due late May 2026) in an […]

I’m not sure what was true

Almost True by Clarice Lispector

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I am not the reader for Almost True by Clarice Lispector. It did not “grab me” but I know several people will find this amusing and clever. The illustrations are unusual and have a little fun going on but are also not over the top silly. Yet, they are oddly abstract with a realistic touch, Once I realized that it was translated by Benjamin Moser I figured that it was the translation of things that was not being liked by my reading ear. The text […]

No matter how they look, a sister is a sister

My Sister the Apple Tree by Jordan Scott, Jamal Saeed, and Zahra Marwan

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Diversity  CBR17 Pie Chart Challenge My Sister the Apple Tree by Jordan Scott, Jamal Saeed, and Zahra Marwan is due this fall (September 2025). I was able to read it via an online reader copy. Now, I know I probably won’t be purchasing a finished copy for myself, but this book is a very contemporary themed picture book that is good for the older reader and should be read.  A young child starts their story with the birth of twin goats. They are envious that […]



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