Cannonball Read 13

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Fern has her own personality as I have mine (see image….It is SO happily me)

Nerdy Corn by Andrew Root

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Fern is a unicorn. She is creative. She prefers building robots and coding to jumping though rainbows that shimmer or splashing in waterfalls. She likes chemistry and reading. Glitter is not her thing, but she is always a good friend and willing to lend a helping hoof to help others. Still the other unicorns tease Fern and call her a Nerdy Corn.

Andrew Root has taken the theme of bullies and being yourself on a slightly different journey in Nerdy Corn. Fern, when she is finally tired of being called names after all the things she does for the other unicorns, takes an interesting path of not helping when the others need her. Will this work to help them realize that being a “Nerdy Corn” is actually really cool?

The classic story has a modern tone to it. Part of that modern atmosphere is Erin Balzer’s cartoonish illustrations. You know the characters are unicorns, but not always a traditional looking unicorn. You see the purples, pinks, pastel blues, and lots of glittery looking things. But they are not your mother’s unicorns. They are not all “pretty pink princess majestic looking.” They are a little tubby and pony like, with fun details. And of course, Fern herself is very unique and special. With their fun mane and their glasses and all their special additions.

All ages can get a kick out of Fern and her friends. While reading one-on-one or in a group, kids will relate to the characters and laugh out loud.

I love you in my own special way

A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Perfect Valentine by Amy Young

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I am not usually a big fan of Sparkle and Lucy, but there was something about A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Perfect Valentine that “got me.” And I do not know how Amy Young did it, but they made me like Valentines Day. They made me want to make Valentines for all my friends right now and not wait until February. However, I do not want to make them in the special way Lucy makes hers (or not just the way she does them), but how Sparkle makes theirs, too.

Now this book is coming out at an odd time, in late November/early December 2021. But in time for you to get it for February 2022 and to practice Sparkle’s special way. Which is, doing the best you can, even if you cannot write (as Sparkle is unable to do) and need to make a unique poem on your heart from your heart. The results of both Lucy’s and Sparkle’s valentines are as cute and sweet as they are funny. The idea of friendship knowing how to “read the images/words” even if they do not know what they say, is a delightful treat.

The illustrations of Young are classic them. Sparkle is that goat-like unicorn, Lucy a perky and happy young child. The colors are sweet, not overwhelming but not faded. And you know how much sparkle there is in Sparkle’s sparkle droppings!

Also, while I am not going to count Valenslime as a read book (as I only read a few pages in an excerpt) but I want to mention it to y’all. I got a good idea of the tone, but I am not totally sure how humorous vs. serious it will be; therefore, I will say this book is adorable looking. It had bold colors and goopy slime delightfully illustrated by Ashley Belote all over. Scientists of all ages will want to read Joy Keller’s picture book. Due in mid-late November 2021.

Magical Friendship: cbr12bingo – “Friendship”

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm by Dana Simpson

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“Phoebe and Her Unicorn” began as a web comic by Dana Simpson in 2012 and then a few years later became a syndicated comic strip in newspapers, that is still in active publication.  The first five books in the series are compilations of those comics.  Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm is the first standalone graphic novel.

Phoebe is an average girl who befriends a unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils.  Together they tackle the mundane, school, to adventure, like when they solve mysteries as the Phoebegold Detective Agency.  Their bond and escapades have many people comparing the duo to Calvin and Hobbes, and I agree.

The Magic Storm begins with freezing rain and Marigold’s realization that magic has gone missing.  She can no longer summon her Shield of Boringness and the humans around her, who normally do not detect a unicorn in their midst, are stunned by her magnificence.  When the power cuts out in the town, Marigold suspects that there is a correlation between the loss of magic and the outage.  In the beginning stages of investigation, they encounter Dakota, once friend and now tormentor of Phoebe, carried on a sedan chair by part of her goblin retinue.  The loss of magic is affecting them as well.  As Phoebe and Dakota bicker, Marigold and the goblins discuss a goblin legend where a dragon named Voltina swallowed lighting.  To enable her lightning habit, Voltina learned magic to summon storms.  However, summoning storms requires large quantities of magic and as such uses up much of the ambient magic.  This lead has Phoebe and Dakota wondering if Voltina has come to their town and is causing the power outage.

To investigate properly, they enlist the help of Max, Phoebe’s friend, for his interest in electricity.  Along the way Max remarks several times about how lucky Phoebe and Dakota are to have their magical companions.  Max often feels like an adjacent friend.  While Phoebe thinks it is cool that Max is into things like electrical grids, it is not an interest she shares, and this is the story of Max’s relationships, but all that changes by the end of the story.  Friendship is a strong theme throughout “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” stories and The Magic Storm is no exception.  The mystery of missing magic and electricity is solved through the power of friendship.

Our whole family enjoys these fun comics and I would recommend them for all ages.  If you like stories of friendship, hijinks and magical creatures (shout out to Todd the candy dragon!), start at the beginning and give these comics a try.

I scream you scream for Halloween! (Or: Autumn books that can be Halloween books )

We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Hogan Wilcox

She Wanted to Be Haunted by Marcus Ewert

The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen

A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Pumpkin Monster by Amy Young

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This is Halloween, this is Halloween/Pumpkins scream in the dead of night

Okay, these four books are on the other side of Halloween. They are not spooky (or at least not to the level of The Nightmare Before Christmas) but they are fun, can acutely be an autumn read (or even anytime read) and can be absolutely perfect for the right audience.

We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Hogan Wilcox is probably my least favorite of the group. That’s not to say it is bad, it was just not what I was looking for. I was confused, why would you go to the pumpkin patch during the night? I mean, yes, if you want a spooky adventure, but not to pick out a pumpkin. Also, the implied ending was more than just spooky for me. But it is Lynn Munsinger’s adorable illustrations that tie it altogether (one character in particular is fun to follow). But the story feels flat. However, the younger crowd will like the rhythm of the book, watching our friends head off to a pumpkin adventure and the colors and details will keep their attention. (Rating 3)

My second book is my favorite of the bunch, She Wanted to Be Haunted by Marcus Ewert and illustrated by Susie Ghahremani. I was expecting this to go one of two ways: It is okay to be yourself even if that is a cute, pink house. Or she would find a way to become haunted. It went a third: By combining the two in a clever way. I liked that the house is the main character. It adds a little something different to the usual affair. I like the details and colors of the art. They are “cartoony” without being “cartoonish.” They allow the story to be adapted to most ages. I love how things do not “go right” but seem to be “even better” without being cliched. This is for the kid (be it in age or in spirit) that is not exactly “like the others.” The ending is perfect as it keeps with the quirky feel of everything. (Rating 5)

Onto the third and another for the younger crowd, The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen. Which is a cute story but one that did not knock my socks off. Our character loves to play with her cat. She loves going out and jumping in leaves. But when she finds a new friend, she forgets her old one. But lucky for her, that cat friend was able to help in the end. This book would make for an adorable board book but might be a bit larger than usual. There is a lot going on illustration wise. I had a feeling the book was going to go one way (our heroine will have two cat friends) but when you find out that the little kitten is a missing pet, I (and most adults) will see where it is going. Just make sure you watch the art to make sure you are right! The illustrations are not the usual bright, autumn/Halloween colors but fall to the somber almost black and white world. (Rating 4)

And last but not least is the one I surprisingly liked, A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Pumpkin Monster  by Amy Young. I might have read others in the series, but do not remember. But this is about Halloween/pumpkins, so I had to give it a shot. I was surprised as Sparkle is about all the fun things that happen. It is an interesting idea about having fun (and it not working out as hoped) but also about scaring people and that maybe it is not always fun to be scared. Adults will enjoy the adventures of Sparkle as much (if not more) as kids. The illustrations have always been the reason I do not gravitate to these books. Yet, this time that “offbeat” look is just what the ghosts ordered. It helps the scary be a bit less as they are bright and needed detail appropriate. (Rating 4)

 

Unicorn Diaries are similar to yours….maybe

Bo's Magical New Friend: A Branches Book (Unicorn Diaries #1) by Rebecca Elliott 

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Bo’s Magical New Friend: A Branches Book (Unicorn Diaries #1) by Rebecca Elliott is super sugary sweet, but a fun unicorn story about friendship. As an adult, I could feel my brain relax into a nice mush. I liked this book not so much for the art as it is way too abstract in the sense colors and shapes are really out there, of course you know that is a rabbit/that is a unicorn/that is a troll, but they are child like in nature, almost too bloody colored and beyond busy. Yet, this does add to the charm of the book.

Early readers will enjoy seeing themselves. They are Bo or one of the other unicorns. They have all wanted to make friends, made mistakes, helped friends, been shy, and so on. The school subject might not be familiar, but the school setting should be. One aspect that might be different is some of the mythology of the unicorn.

The unicorns do not have parents, they just POP out on a starry night. Like Sunny does one night. And because of this they all communally live together. This makes me curious why there is only one adult in the group, their teacher.

With that aside, I would have most likely enjoyed having this read to me or reading it on my own. Yet, as an adult this is a one-shot deal. I will not be looking for other books by them, or in this series. However, one of the unique pieces I think I noticed is that Bo’s real name is Rainbow Tinseltail but does not seem to have been labeled him or her. One would assume “Rainbow” female, but this is an interesting piece to the overall picture where others are given a gender.

Book Two comes in March 2020

Do you believe that Pirates don’t takes baths and there are Groovicorns?

Pirates Don’t Take Baths by John Sega

Do You Believe in Groovicorns? by Rosie Greening

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Yesterday was a slow day at work. Therefore, I took a few minutes to look at the new crop of Sale Books that came in. (Long story short, they are just lovely normal books looking for a home, but just have a slightly lower price than usual). Two books that caught my attention were two board books. One, Pirates Don’t Take Baths by John Segal and the other, I actively went looking for as I had been the one to do the data entry on it and Do You Believe in Groovicorns seemed to have potential as Make Believe Idea Ltd. usually has some nice books.

And Pirates Don’t Take Baths did not disappoint. It is a cute little board book about how everyone may not have to take a bath, but if you are a Pirate, they do not get sea sick, but our narrator does. Therefore, other options are given such as it might be hard to take a bath in space, so astronauts do not have to take baths, but as Mom points out, it is hard to do bodily functions in space (the image of our narrator shows that this is less than a pleasant thought) and so forth. However, because our little pigs’ mom is a smart cookie, she shows her picky bather how even a bath can be fun. The art is simple with not a lot of details but gets the point across.

However, Do You Believe in Groovicorns? created by Rosie Greening and Stuart Lynch fell flat. And while the story falls flat, the sequins did not. Or at least, not very easily. The changing color sequin areas of the book start out fun, but basically repeat themselves. The only page slightly different is the page with the disco globe that also shows the artist might know Saturday Night Fever a little too well. There is not a great story as instead of celebrating differences, it comes out and says the “normal” unicorns are dull and not “as good” as their counterparts, Groovicorns. There is nothing interesting about the book other than it had potential and never came about.

Therefore, the moral of the story is, you can always find a great deal on the sale table, but you do have to browse to find the one that fits your likes, dislikes and needs.



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