Cannonball Coralie and the Lion

Book Review: Connonball Coralie and the Lion by Grace Easton

I'd like to thank Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Book for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book via Net Galley.

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"Lion looked at the Man in the Big Hat and so much anger and sadness swelled up inside him that he let out a loud, lonely... ROAR!"

Here is a book that I saw and just loved the look of! The bright images and colours jumped out at me and the art work is so cute! Cannonball Coralie is a bright and bouncy book that will put a smile on a child's or adults face!

What is it about?
This is a simple children's story about a young girl called Coralie who finds herself befriending a Lion in a strict circus. Here she becomes a human cannon ball on the advice of the unkind Man in the Big Hat who is the ring master. Once he finds that she is having too much fun, he asks her to leave the circus and her friends, who then rise up and leave the circus to join Coralie in the woods, where they can all live without any binding rules and have fun together!

What I Loved ...
This story warmed my heart in so many ways! Maybe it's because the inner teacher in me is coming out, or maybe I just love reading children's books! It is a simple story that is told with the pictures and the words! I think the beauty of this book lies in WHAT IS NOT SAID. A lot of the story is left untold so that the reader has the opportunity to infer how characters are feeling, whats happening in the back ground? Why do you think this character behaved in this way? And THAT is so important when it comes to reading with little ones!! I loved the fact that this book allows the reader to ask these questions and doesn't always give the answers written on the page!

Things I want more of...
I can't really say that there is much more I'd want other than more of the story! I think the relationship between Coralie and the Lion could have been expanded. Maybe she could have made friends with other people at the circus or had more "run ins" with the Man in the Big Hat to show that being unkind and imposing rules on others is not always fun. I do think that a book on relationships would have made this book flow a little better.

4/5 Stars - a fun short book that allows children to explore characters and feelings.

Coralie is the Pippi Longstocking for a new generation!

She's funny and strange and incredibly brave. She can juggle five squirrels, can stand on her hands and even becomes a human cannonball! Just like the iconic Pippi, it seems that there's nothing little Coralie wouldn't do

But on top of this is a charming tale of friendship, bravery and a celebration of our differences. Featuring an array of wonderful characters with lively illustrations, Cannonball Coralie and the Lion is as much a visual treat as it is a heartwarming message.

Quirky and colourful, this picture book is sure to delight its little readers. I do hope we get to see much more of Coralie and her grand adventures!

Overall, I like this book. It's a sweet, simple story. I would read this with my library preschool story hour group. I can hear the kids roaring already. The illustrations are bright and work well with the content. I also appreciate the diversity shown in the illustrations. That said, I think the anti rule-following message is unnecessary to advance the story, and it doesn't really add to Coralie's character. Is she a rule-breaker? Not really. From the beginning, she exists in her own little world in the woods without a concept of authority. She has no adults or other people to tell her right from wrong. She's spirited and fun, and that personality clashes with the bullying ways of the man in big hat. She's not breaking rules. The ringmaster isn't imposing rules. He's just screaming. Coralie and the animals are resisting bullying, and that might be the better message for the end of the book. I also think the story could establish a stronger connection between Coralie and the Lion, and it could benefit from playing up the surprise circus reveal.

Coralie meets Lion and befriends him. She wants to join the circus so they can stay together! But will the shouty man with the big hat allow it?

Suspension of disbelief: We don't know about Coralie's parents, why she is alone in the woods. For the time you read the book, it works, but afterwards come the questions.

The story is simple and straightforward, the pictures are colourfull and fun. Also, I like how Coralie looks. She's not exactly chubby, but she's not reed-thin, either. And that's okay! Children don't need to look like models. Healthy is healthy is healthy.
Since she climbs, races and juggles all day long, I'd say this girl has very well developed muscles. She's a do-er. She might be afraid some times, but with the help of friends she can get over it - and this is what it means to be brave.

Liked this one. Would love to know what they'll get up to in the future.
Though I still wonder about her parents.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely adorable!

The illustrations were stunning and the story was sweet and unique. I loved that the lion could only roar but that those roars were translated and that the main character had doubts about being brave, definitely a bedtime hit!

No problems here, as we see a girl with individual talents try and run away with the circus. Initially we like the MC, especially when he demands "no jazz" of the brass band, but he proves to be a wrong 'un, and it's down to Coralie and the circus lion to try and enforce a bit more freedom for the talent in the circus to just be themselves. The message is clear, the story readable and quite good fun, however unlikely the girl's understanding the speech of the lion might be.

This book is beautifully illustrated and beautifully told. I may be searching too hard for meaning, but I didn’t find any. There’s not really a moral to the story, but it’s easy to enjoy and a beautiful experience!

A beautifully tale about the importance of friendship and standing up for yourself. The illustrations are engaging, quirky and colourful. This is a really lovely picture book.

'Cannonball Coralie and the Lion' is an exciting story about a brave red-haired girl named Coralie. She reminded me of Pippi Longstocking as she was very courageous and independent and willing to try anything! The story is a little odd, but does show that it's important to stand up to people who bully you and to stand by your friends. This would be a great book for 3 to 6 year olds.

Thank you NetGalley and the Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing this ARC.

Cannonball Coralie and the Lion is a fun story about a brave, red-headed little girl. This story has quirky, colourful pictures and follows Coralie's friendship with a circus lion. This fun, inventive story is perfect for primary school children.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the Quatro Group in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really liked this book about a girl that happens upon the circus in the middle of a forest and befriends a lion because he looks friendly. This would be a great book to add to the bedtime library collection.

'Cannonball Coralie and the Lion' with words and illustrations by Grace Easton is a picture book about a brave and talented young girl.

Coralie has many talents, so when the circus comes to visit, she wants to join. The Mna in the Big Hat doesn't think her tricks are good enough, but Coralie has made a new friend in a lion. When the circus leader offers her a new and dangerous job, will she be brave enough to try it?

I love adorable imaginative picture books, and this is definitely one of them. Coralie is a kind of unstoppable force, and teaches the kind of bravery and compassion that are worth emulating. Sure there are things like petting lions and climbing into cannons that may need to be discussed with young readers, but I really liked this book and it's bright, fun art.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing - Frances Lincoln's Children's Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Cannonball Coralie is a very sweet story about the importance of self-acceptance and friendship. There was enough going on in the story to keep my young daughter engaged, and the circus theme was a great talking point as we were able to expand on what was happening on each page. The artwork was bright and quirky, and my daughter loved poring over every scene. She found it very funny that the lion’s roar meant something different each time, and that the man in the tall hat got his comeuppance! After being requested to read it three times in a row, I’m sure we’ll be rereading this one at future bedtimes.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the arc to review.