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Marshmallow reviews The 50 States by Kana Kavon

Today Marshmallow reviews a beautiful large-format book, The 50 States by Kana Kavon, first published in 2021.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books with beautiful images and illustrations with fascinating facts, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Given the title, one could likely assume that this book is about the fifty states of the United States of America. And it is exactly that, but also so much more! There are seven sections which divide the states—and territories—up by their geographical location. They are as follows: the Northeast, the Southeast, the Midwest, the Southwest, the West, Noncontiguous States, and U.S. Territories. The Table of Contents itself hints that this book will be full of very aesthetically-pleasing visuals like drawings and photos! There are so many amazing, astonishing images of the natural beauty of the U.S. and almost every page (if not every page) has one such photo. There are also unique facts about state and territory that helps introduce the reader to each one. Every state has a two-page spread, and every territory has about one page. All are like collages with drawings and photos layered in a manner that is easy to absorb and understand for the reader. The state animal and the state flower for every state are shown, and cool historical tales are described. For example, did you know that the first Black, female millionaire (named Madame C. J. Walker) was an entrepreneur based in Indiana? I didn’t…until I read this book!

Marshmallow is reading The 50 States by Kana Kavon. — Marshmallow is reading *The 50 States* by Kana Kavon.

Marshmallow’s Review: I really loved reading this book! It is beautifully written with simplicity and clarity. But it is also beautifully designed and decorated! I found it very calming to read and also very eye-opening. I never knew how unique each state is. They all have their own character, their own history, and their own quirks that make American history even richer. I especially loved the images of the natural beauty found in each state. Being from only one, I’ve only ever been most able to appreciate the beauty of one. But this book showed me how there is beauty to be seen and appreciated in each and every state and territory. It was really nice that the territories were included as well, and the way each grouping of the states / territories was labelled by geography helped me place them better on a mental map.

I think books like these are eye-opening and help humanize people. During a time of unprecedented polarization, tensions between the American people are higher than ever. State lines have begun literally dividing us as a populace and animosity is growing as states become identified solely by which way they vote. This book helps show us that every state has something beautiful to offer to the great American Experiment and that is something we all need to appreciate in order to truly be able to come together as one indivisible nation with freedom and justice for all.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates The 50 States by Kana Kavon 100%. — Marshmallow rates *The 50 States* by Kana Kavon 100%.

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #6: Alamo All-Stars by Nathan Hale

Today Caramel is talking to Sprinkles about Alamo All-Stars by Nathan Hale, published first in 2016. This is the sixth book in Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series, and thankfully the sixth book Caramel happened to read from the series. (So finally these numberings match!)

For Caramel’s reviews of the five earlier books, please check out: One Dead Spy, Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood, The Underground Abductor, Big Bad Ironclad, and Donner Dinner Party.

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #6: Alamo All-Stars by Nathan Hale.

Sprinkles: So here we are, talking about yet another Nathan Hale book.

Caramel: Yes! And this one is also a great book!

S: Oh, yes? So you have enjoyed reading about the Alamo? Isn’t that supposed to be a story of a big defeat?

C: Yes, but a very heroic one! And at the end of the book, the author ties things up by telling us how the U.S. in the end did win over Texas. So they lost Alamo first, but eventually they won it back. Kind of like losing the battle and winning the war.

S: I see. But it was also probably a heroic win for the other side, at least the stand at Alamo.

C: I suppose. You are right. All wars have at least two sides. When one side wins and celebrates, the other side is losing and facing great difficulties. So I like reading about wars and history, but it would be best if there were no wars. I think we can say that we have had enough wars. Maybe we do not need any more.

S: Such wise words from a little bunny…

Caramel is reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #6: Alamo All-Stars by Nathan Hale.

S: Okay, so this book is all yellow!

C: Yes, you said last time that each book has one thematic color, so maybe you were right. This is the yellow book. There are other colors in the book too, of course but yellow is a lot more visible in this book than the others.

S: Is there any humor in the book? I mean it is about war and death again, but …

C: Yes. At least there are some light-hearted moments. And it does not feel as heavy as Donner Dinner Party.

S: I see. That is good. So it seems from this page created by Fulton County Library System that there are at least six more books in this series.

C: Yup. I want to read all of them!

S: I think that can be arranged. But maybe we can take a short break for a bit.

C: What are you trying to tell me Sprinkles?

S: Me? Nothing. Maybe there are other books you could read for the next week or two.

C: Maybe. Or maybe not. I do like these books!

S: I know. But maybe we can try a few other books for a bit.

C: I see what you are doing. And I guess we will see what you find for me to read for next week.

S: I mean, I won’t force you.

C: Hmm.

S: Okay, maybe this is a good time to stop talking about this book and wrap this review up. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #6: Alamo All-Stars by Nathan Hale and looks forward to reading many more historical graphic novels in the near future.

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party by Nathan Hale

Caramel is on a roll reading books from the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series by Nathan Hale. So far he has read and reviewed One Dead Spy, Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood, The Underground Abductor, and Big Bad Ironclad. Today he talks to Sprinkles about the fifth book he read in the series: Donner Dinner Party, which was originally published in 2013 as the third book in the series. (See this page created by Fulton County Library System for the full chronological order of the books.)

Given the morbid nature of the historical events described (involving death and cannibalism), this review might not be appropriate for very young bunnies.

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party by Nathan Hale. — Caramel reviews *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party* by Nathan Hale.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, it seems like it is once again time to talk about a Nathan Hale book.

Caramel: Yes! It is great that I can read another one of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales.

S: I know you love these books! So tell me, what is this one about?

C: It is about the people going to California in 1846.

S: Oh, I see, so this is about the Donner party, going west toward California and getting lost?

C:Yes it is.

S: So the dinner party part is kind of poking fun at the rumors that some of them ended up eating others?

C: Yes, but it is not a very funny joke in terms of what it means. And it is not rumors; the Wikipedia article says they actually ate some of those who died because they were weaker, but they apparently also killed two Native American guides and ate them.

S: Caramel, that is awful!

C: Yep, and disturbing.

S: I mean, the other books you read in this series also had people dying, there were many wars and such, but this somehow feels a lot more morbid.

C: Yep, it does. But apparently history can be pretty terrible.

S: I can see that this book is making that quite clear.

C: Yep, it certainly did for me.

Caramel is reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party by Nathan Hale. — Caramel is reading *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party* by Nathan Hale.

S: So was reading this book a bit more challenging then? The story is pretty disturbing.

C: Yeah, it was a little, but the scary parts are mainly on a couple pages, making them easy to skip.

S: And it seems like an important story, about how humans can get quite vicious and terrible when they are desperate.

C: Yeah humans are sometimes very mean to each other, which is not a good thing.

S: I mean when you read Watership Down, we saw there that bunnies can also be cruel to one another, but at least we would never eat each other. We are vegetarian.

C: And I guess I will have to remind you that Watership Down was fiction, Sprinkles. This book is about a real event!

S: I know I know. I was just trying to lighten up the mood, but it is pretty difficult. So let us talk about the book in general. I suppose you had heard of the Donner party before. Did you learn anything new while reading Donner Dinner Party?

C: Yep, that sometimes the people in the past, and sometimes now, can be very mean to others.

S: So true. And so sad… Okay, I will now shift gears because this is getting a bit too sad. It seems these books are in color but always only a couple colors show up on each two-page spread. Is that correct?

C: yep, this one had around 8 different colors total.

S: But only a couple of the colors showing up on one page, right?

C: Yep, at most maybe 2-3 colors on one page.

S: But it still seems to work well, right?

C: Yes, it feels colorful at least.

S: After this I think there are still a few more books in this series. Are you interested?

C: Yeah, I can’t imagine there will be too many more cannibal stories in there.

S: I agree. Okay, so let us wrap this up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel appreciated reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party by Nathan Hale and is ready for another adventure. — Caramel appreciated reading *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #5: Donner Dinner Party* by Nathan Hale and is ready for another adventure.

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad by Nathan Hale

As his first review of 2025, Caramel wanted to continue with his favorite historical graphic novel series: Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales. He had already reviewed One Dead Spy, Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood, and The Underground Abductor. Today he is talking about Big Bad Ironclad, fourth book in our collection. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

[We were hoping to go through these books in order, but Caramel happened to first read a three-book sampler which was made up of the first, fourth, and the fifth books! So the numbering of these posts basically is mostly about the order Caramel is reading them in. Big Bad Ironclad, reviewed in today’s post, is the second ever book in the series, originally published in 2012. Readers can see the publication order of these books at this page created by Fulton County Library System.]

Caramel reviews Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad by Nathan Hale. — Caramel reviews *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad* by Nathan Hale.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, here we are again, and you chose to start off your 2025 reviews with yet another Nathan Hale book.

Caramel: Yes I have, and, what a book!

S: Hmm, I am guessing that means it is a good book?

C: yes, it certainly was.

S: So what is this one about? What time period are we in?

C: we are in the civil war, and it is about the ironclads, the first metal warships.

S: Oh yes, maybe we should remind our readers that these books are graphic novels that explore various time periods in the history of the United States. So this one is about the U.S. Civil War. Then we must be in the 1860s.

C: Yes, that is important to do, and it is the 1860s.

S: Okay, so tell me more about the ironclads.

C: They are older steam-powered warships that heavy iron plating is put over, like a jacket, allowing them to withstand cannons, and other guns of the time.

S: So kind of like an armor a warrior might put on. Underneath the iron are they made of wood then?

C: Yes, they are, in fact, made of wood under the iron.

S: Hmm, I guess it makes sense to try and armor the ships. But wouldn’t that make them too heavy? Wouldn’t they sink?

C: Well, yes and no. The iron is placed on the exact right places as to not make it too heavy, yet still provide ample protection from attack.

Caramel is reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad by Nathan Hale. — Caramel is reading *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad* by Nathan Hale.

S: Okay, so that looks like a story you would be interested in, you like warships and such, but it is after all a graphic novel. Are there any human characters in the book? And what is the human story told?

C: It is about the stories of the ironclads and those who fought against them and how they defeated the big, bad ironclad.

S: Oh, so the ironclads are kind of like the new scary weapons and the story is about how they could be defeated. Do we also learn about the people who designed and built the ironclads?

C: Yes, I suppose, but the story of how they are defeated is more central.

S: Do both sides have ironclads or only one side?

C: Well, both sides have ironclads, but the story is told mainly from the view of the Union, the North, so we learn about how they build their ironclad and defeat the ironclad from the South.

S: I see. So did you learn some new things while reading this book?

C: Yes, I did learn some new things; these books have so many facts! For example I learned that the Union built their own ironclad from the same inventor who made the peacemaker, a huge cannon which blew up and killed the president’s cabinet. They must have been desperate.

S: That is interesting! I had not heard about the peacemaker. Wikipedia has an article about the ship that it was installed on. So these books are factual but also fictional. Can you tell what is fact and what is fiction?

C: Yes, it is rather obvious as the narrator, Nathan Hale, says the real things that happen, like he says things like, ”this is not an accurate representation of this person,” or something like that.

S: I see. That is cool. So you learn stuff about the history of the United States and also enjoy reading a fun graphic novel. I am assuming of course that you have enjoyed reading this book?

C: Yes, it was great!

S: I am assuming we will hear about a lot more Nathan Hale books in the near future.

C: Yes, you will.

S: Can’t wait!

C: Well, you have to. At least till next week!

S: Okay, okay, yes, till next week. So as we wrap up this review, what do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad by Nathan Hale and can't wait to read the next book! — Caramel loved reading *Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #4: Big Bad Ironclad* by Nathan Hale and can’t wait to read the next book!