Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

The community of solstice

Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and Elisa Paganelli

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I am not jumping up and down and saying Winter Solstice Wish by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Elisa Paganelli (currently available, but I read via an online reader copy) is the best solstice book ever, but I am jumping in to say this is a nice and slightly different approach to the subject. What I have seen for solstice books tend to show more winter scenes and events done to celebrate the seasonal moment. When we find the shortest day of the year, […]

We gonna celebrate with you!

Luke & the Longest Night: A Wheel of the Year Book by Kathleen Converse

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I recently read an article (which of course now I cannot locate) about how pagan celebrations are not really shown in children’s books, and how a company was started to create books on the subject. I was intrigued. I might not be a pagan, or really know anyone who is, but I am interested in books about other holidays, celebrations, religious beliefs, and so forth. I asked my local library to see if they could find me one (or more) of them. So far, the […]

Ornery Agatha Cat Christie

Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire

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Ellie and her sister Meg are the latest managers of their family-owned bookstore. When an employee disappears and a mysterious visitor ends up dead in a gondola, the Christies find themselves entangled in the mystery. My losing streak had apparently ended, because I adored this book! It had all the best traits of a cozy mystery – quirky characters, a small town feel, adorable animals – without going overboard, which is a real hazard in this genre. The Christies are a fun, close-knit family, bookstore […]

Baby it is Flipping (only I didn’t say flipping) cold outside

I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 (I Survived, #16) by Lauren Tarshis

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cbr14bingo Cold  Level 1 & 2   (Images taken from online)   I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 (I Survived, #16) by Lauren Tarshis is an easy read for stronger readers but could capture some reluctant readers with the boy narrator and the adventure of the blizzard. The ages could start as young as six or seven for the more advanced reader, as there is little in the way of content that could be considered “too much” (I am sure cartoons and movies today have […]

Friends and snow and that’s how it goes!

A Thing Called Snow by Yuval Zommer

Before We Sleep by Giorgio Volpe

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Due to new books coming out for the holiday season, picture books are coming at us from all sides! And several are quaint, sweet, old fashioned with modern twists, stories. Two of those sweet ones are A Thing Called Snow and Before We Sleep. My first thought about both were: sweet stories. My second thought: Dang these are some awesome illustrations. My final thought: Um… sorry a fox and rabbit and a fox and a mouse are not going to be “safe friends” so why […]

Follow a Star to Friendship

The Bear and the Star by Lola M. Schaefer

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I was thinking this book was a holiday, Christmas story, from the cover. And while it is never mentioned as Christmas, there is an extremely obvious them of the Christ child at the end, going on. Fun illustrations, but the story has some weak moments. Overall, The Bear and the Star is a sweet story. It is about the spiritual of the season and giving to others. Lola M. Schaefer has clear text, even if some places feel a bit rushed or missing pieces. Bethanne […]



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