Review - Cannonball

Cannonball
by Sacha Cotter
illustrated by Josh Morgan
Date: 2020
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 38
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

He's ready to make a splash!

I'm ready to pull off the perfect cannonball, but everyone has advice.
"You need more weight"
"Bigger shorts!"
"More muscles!"
"BIGGER SHORTS!"

All it really takes is listening to your own voice and finding the courage to make the perfect cannonball.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Are cannonballs a big deal in New Zealand? Judging by this book, it certainly seems like it. Cannonball is a story related by a young Maori boy who wants to achieve the perfect cannonball. But his attempts fail, and everyone has all kinds of (unhelpful) advice. It isn't until his grandmother tells him to be himself and do things his own way that he finally achieves his goal.

The story is sometimes in rhyme and sometimes not. I don't really mind, since the rhyming bits are mostly the kid's internal monologue. There's an interesting glossary at the back of different poses used to jump into the water, complete with names. The illustrations, though, are probably going to be what appeals to most readers. They're colourful and detailed, and show plenty of diversity within the cannonballing community.

I'm still not sure why cannonballs are such a big deal, but they make for an interesting premise. I can't say that I've ever read a book about cannonballing before, let alone one set in New Zealand.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5