Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
| Log in
  1. Follow us on Facebook
  2. Follow us on Instagram
  3. Follow us on Bluesky
  4. Follow us on Goodreads
  5. RSS Feeds

  • Home
  • About
    • Getting Started in CBR18
    • Rules of Respect
    • Cannon Book Club
    • Diversions
    • Fan Mail
    • Holiday Book Exchange
    • Book Bingo Reading Challenge
    • Participation Badges
    • AlabamaPink
    • About Cannonball Read
  • Our Team
    • The CBR Team
    • Leaderboard
    • Recent Comments
    • Participant Interviews
    • Cannonballer Location Maps
    • Our Volunteers
    • Meet MsWas
  • Categories
    • Review Genres
    • Tags
    • Star Ratings
    • Featured Review Archive
  • Fight Cancer
    • How We Fight Cancer
    • Donate
    • CBR Merchandise
  • FAQ
  • Contact
    • Contact Form
    • 2026 Registration
    • Suggest a Review
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Social Media

Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

Call me A Reader. Some hours ago–never mind how long precisely–having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me…. I read a book…

Call Me Moby by Lars Kenseth

February 26, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Retellings are not new, but the way Call Me Moby by Lars Kenseth is presented and the “wink wink” towards the original Herman Melville story, Moby Dick, makes it fresh. And this obvious homage will be a hoot for adults. And, of course, young readers will find Moby’s actions relatable and amusing. The illustrations are sweet and having the simplicity of certain ones in the right places allows for the punch of the more detailed ones to be stronger. I would have liked to have […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Health Tagged With: friendship, Lars Kenseth, Moby Dick, retellings, Social Themes, whales

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:68 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Health · Tags: friendship, Lars Kenseth, Moby Dick, retellings, Social Themes, whales ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

A song that lead to a anti-captivity movement and understanding of a wild creature

Whalesong: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to Orcas by Zaqchariah Ohora

October 15, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

During a recent lunch that was not too exciting, I read a few books. They were all read online and all had recently become available. One of those books was Whalesong: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to Orcas by Zaqchariah Ohora. The story itself is simple: a scientist named Paul and a musician named Paul and his children find a way to communicate with two orca whales. They learn a lot about communication, the whales themselves (how they play, grieve, and where […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Children's Books, History, Non-Fiction Tagged With: animals, anti-captivity movement, Dr. Paul Spong, flutes, Haida and Chimo orca whales, Mammals, Marine Life, Marlen Horn, music, orcas, Paul Horn, Performing Arts, Robin Horn, science, whales, Zaqchariah Ohora

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:491 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Children's Books, History, Non-Fiction · Tags: animals, anti-captivity movement, Dr. Paul Spong, flutes, Haida and Chimo orca whales, Mammals, Marine Life, Marlen Horn, music, orcas, Paul Horn, Performing Arts, Robin Horn, science, whales, Zaqchariah Ohora ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Call her The Doctor

The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A Two-Hundred-Year Journey in the Artic by Alex Boersma and Nick Pyenson

January 19, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have read other stories about whales who have lived for centuries, as I am sure you have, too. But what makes The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A Two-Hundred-Year Journey in the Artic so wonderful is the illustrations. The story is nice, not overly pushy but gets the point across. You know this is a story not just about a whale that could live up to over 200 years-old, but an environmental book as well.  Yet, when it comes to the art, that is […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, History Tagged With: Alex Boersma, Alex Boersma and Nick Pyenson, enviorment, enviormentalism, Environmental Conservation & Protection, Environmental Science & Ecosystems, mamals, Nick Pyenson, oceans, whales

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:21 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, History · Tags: Alex Boersma, Alex Boersma and Nick Pyenson, enviorment, enviormentalism, Environmental Conservation & Protection, Environmental Science & Ecosystems, mamals, Nick Pyenson, oceans, whales ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Who Would Win?

Ultimate Bug Rumble by Jerry Pallotta

Jaguar vs. Skunk by Jerry Pallotta

Killer Whale vs Great White Shark by Jerry Pallotta

Rhino vs. Hippo by Jerry Pallotta

October 13, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have reviewed others in the Who Would Win? Series. This time around I found four titles that had a few animals you do not normally see in a children’s book as well as surprise upsets in the battle of the best. Each book gives facts, oddities and quirky information about each bug, mammal, or fish. A solid argument is given to why the author thinks the one that wins would win. All the facts are in front of you; and therefore, you can make […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Non-Fiction Tagged With: animals, hippos, inscets, jaguar, Jerry Pallotta, rhino, Rob Bolster, science, sharks, skunk, whales, Who Would Win

BlackRaven's CBR13 Review No:347 · Genres: Children's Books, Non-Fiction · Tags: animals, hippos, inscets, jaguar, Jerry Pallotta, rhino, Rob Bolster, science, sharks, skunk, whales, Who Would Win ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Oh, you’re the best friend that I ever had (and not bad of a book either)

Crab and Snail: The Invisible Whale by Beth Ferry

Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor

August 24, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The new reader copies are coming in and Fall 2021, Winter 2022 and Spring 2022 are looking good. Two of them are below. Or the adult reader they were a lunch time read, for the age aimed at, you can take your time reading a few pages at a time. Crab and Snail: The Invisible Whale is due Spring 2022. Author Beth Ferry and illustrator Jared Chapamn have created a book that is a fun story about the ocean and about friends and friendship. However, […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: adventure, Beth Ferry, bugs, Corey R. Tabor, crabs, friendship, Jared Chapamn, knights, ocean, snails, whales

Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: adventure, Beth Ferry, bugs, Corey R. Tabor, crabs, friendship, Jared Chapamn, knights, ocean, snails, whales ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

When you write over 300 words for a book that does not have one

The Fisherman & the Whale by Jessica Lanan

January 7, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

How do you write a review for a wordless picture book? Especially a 250 word one? You could start by saying that the title is The Fisherman & the Whale and is by Jessica Lanan. They are also the illustrator. Or should say this book is by Lanan period. It was published in May of 2019. And it was a pretty wild ride. The wordlessness is usually the first thing that turns me off on a book. Yet, there are a handful of books that […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction Tagged With: fishing, Jessica Lanan, Mammals, Marine Life, Science & Nature, Stories without words, whales

BlackRaven's CBR13 Review No:14 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction · Tags: fishing, Jessica Lanan, Mammals, Marine Life, Science & Nature, Stories without words, whales ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »


Recent Comments

  • Malin
    on My most surprising 5-star read of the year (also Cannonball, finally)
    Thank you! What was going to end up being my 52nd review of the year has changed a LOT over...
  • Emmalita
    on My most surprising 5-star read of the year (also Cannonball, finally)
    I’m so glad your Cannonball book was one that rewarded you for going outside of your comfort zone. Happy Cannonball!...
  • Tyson Vaughan
    on A Wonderful Western
    This book is a masterpiece. Among the many things I love about it is the way that Jessilyn's pony Ingrid...
  • BlackRaven
    on That Darn Cat!
    At least it has a neat cover..... ?
  • Tracy
    on Swordheart: I never thought I would read this many books in a year and I’ve run clean out of taglines
    I really enjoyed this one.
See More Recent Comments »

Support Our Mission

  • Support Our Mission, Donate Today!
  • FAQ
  • Shop
  • Volunteers
  • Leaderboard
  • AlabamaPink
  • Contact

Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo

The reviews and comments posted on this site reflect the opinions of individual posters and do not reflect the views of Cannonball Read.

© 2026 Cannonball Read Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) | Log in