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wrentheblurry's review
4.0
Super, super cute graphic novel! I'm not even a big eggplant fan, but I love that one of the main characters is one! In fact, I was tickled just staring at all of the food-related characters involved. One page has a chicken leg walking his pet dog! Fantastic!!
So, the artwork appeals to me, along with Varon's color palette. Beyond the food characters, the artwork, and the cuteness of it all, the story is all about food! Cupcake has fallen into a baking rut and seeks some inspiration to bring his passion back to his bakery. He thinks that going to meet food star Turkish Delight is the answer, and strives to focus solely on work and selling extra baked goods to meet this goal.
Music plays a role in Bake Sale, and friendship is a strong theme. Some decisions will certainly need to be made. Be warned, though, as my son Warren (12) said when he finished it: "What?! That's just a cliffhanger!"
Note: the back of the book does contain some recipes featured in the story, though I didn't try any. I am intrigued by the thought of making dog biscuits for my friends with pets, though.
So, the artwork appeals to me, along with Varon's color palette. Beyond the food characters, the artwork, and the cuteness of it all, the story is all about food! Cupcake has fallen into a baking rut and seeks some inspiration to bring his passion back to his bakery. He thinks that going to meet food star Turkish Delight is the answer, and strives to focus solely on work and selling extra baked goods to meet this goal.
Music plays a role in Bake Sale, and friendship is a strong theme. Some decisions will certainly need to be made. Be warned, though, as my son Warren (12) said when he finished it: "What?! That's just a cliffhanger!"
Note: the back of the book does contain some recipes featured in the story, though I didn't try any. I am intrigued by the thought of making dog biscuits for my friends with pets, though.
migimon2002's review
3.0
This was a cute graphic novel. It would be great for my younger students (yet it includes some laughable puns & jokes older readers can appreciate). One complaint I have is the ending was abrupt. When I turned the last page, and realized it was finished, I felt as if I'd missed something. For those who enjoy baking/cooking there are some recipes included.
dancefloor's review
4.0
for a book aimed at children, it had a surprisingly adult ending. The idea that sometimes life just sucks, even if you do the right or good thing. I thought this was a fun read
johnnymacaroni's review
4.0
I kinda fell in love with this book. It sort of doesn't really go anywhere but I liked it. All the characters are some sort of food which is cute but it's also a little weird like when a bag of sugar joneses for brownies and the tomato picks up a carrot cake for the garden club. It made me laugh though and it has recipes! Fun!
librarianboy's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
sducharme's review
4.0
Cupcake is working extra hard at her bakery and at bake sales around the city to raise money for a plane ticket to Istanbul to meet her culinary hero: Turkish Delight. The plan is for her to go with her friend, Eggplant, but he's not able to pay for his own ticket. She decides to give her ticket to him instead, and suffers some moments of feeling deflated afterward. A theme of friendship ties this story together by the end. This is a fun one, and the addition of recipes and step-by-step directions to match her baking skills is extra cute.
pixelgeist's review
4.0
This book was cute, and I love the illustration. It also gave you all the recipes that the main character made throughout the book.
obrill's review
5.0
Title: Bake Sale
Author: Sara Varon
Illustrator: Sara Varon
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction
Theme(s):
Opening line/sentence: “Oh, Cupcake, it looks delicious. My gardening club goes crazy for your carrot cake.”
Brief Book Summary: Cupcake wants to travel, so he uses his baked goods to raise money. But when a friend needs help Cupcake does everything he can for his friend’s happiness.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Leigh Geiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature) This quirky 158-page graphic novel may offer a little something for everyone. Very young children may enjoy the simply drawn anthropomorphized foods. Some adults may enjoy the adorable storyline and even a few of the enclosed recipes, which include brownies and dog treats. The primary audience, however, will be children in the third grade and above. Reluctant and advanced readers alike will enjoy the finer graphic details included throughout the majority of the panels. Some are comical including the accessories for each character s pets while others are poignant such as the Nothing is Special Today sign posted in the bakery when the owner, Cupcake, is depressed about losing his gig in the community band. In fact, the sparse text is barely necessary; the graphics carry the story which is about a cupcake that single-handedly runs his own bakery. When he learns that his best friend, an eggplant, is going to visit Turkey where the famous pastry chef Turkish Delight resides, Cupcake wants to join him. The baker works diligently to raise the money for the trip. When Eggplant loses his job, Cupcake gives his ticket to Eggplant. As he gives up his dreams of seeing Turkish Delight, Cupcake succumbs to a minor depression while his friend is away. The story ends with a hopeful although not definitive plan for the two friends to try to win a trip together. I do have some reservations about this book. The characters are all adults with business issues that won t resonant well with children, but their actions reflect their innocent nature so this may help young readers identify with their dilemmas. The text is not tightly written as the author wanders into situations that don’t drive the story, perhaps to provide an opportunity for more graphics. And finally, there is the cannibalistic nature of the characters--a cupcake that makes pastries, including cupcakes and then eats them may be disturbing if readers stop to consider this! 2011, First Second/Roaring Book Press, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12.
(PUBLISHER: First Second (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2011.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly) In a world of anthropomorphized food, Cupcake is a pink cupcake who runs his own bakery and idolizes the culinary work of Turkish Delight, a famous foreign chef. Cupcake's best friend, Eggplant, has a way for Cupcake to meet his idol, but first Cupcake must spend extra time earning enough money for the plane trip to Turkey. Cupcake has to drop out of the band he enjoys and go the extra mile to sell as many baked goods as he can. Much of the book shows Cupcake's hard work, which doesn't actually get him anywhere in the end because he gives his money to Eggplant who has lost his job instead. This seems to be showing that it's good to help others, and not to idolize when one can believe in oneself. However, it does make the ending feel a tad anticlimactic and as if nothing has been solved, since it seems that Cupcake has worked hard and pushed himself for nothing. Altogether the book has a mellow, easygoing feel, using soft colors and showing many yummy foods. As an added bonus, recipes for how to make the various scrumptious meals readers watch Cupcake prepare are provided. As in her previous Robot Dreams, Varon's art is simple and cozy, making this sweet tale a confection of its own. Ages 9 12. (Aug.)\n
(PUBLISHER: First Second (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2011.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The first reviewer talks about Cupcake’s hard work (which the second review echos as well) and how it helps to show goal setting and perseverance. Although the problems that Eggplant and Cupcake face are adult, both reviewers say how the innocence of the characters would make them more relatable to children, but still appeal to everyone. I agree with this!
Evaluation of Literary Elements: Since this is graphic novel there is a lot of emphasize on the illustrations. There are double and single spreads as well as pages broken down in many segments. The colors chosen are more pastels than dark or really bright colors—seeming almost “confectionary”. Both Eggplant and Cupcake are extremely rounded also emphasizing their goodness.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This is a good book for upper elementary and middle schoolers. I would have this novel available in my classroom library. A lesson that could be used with this is goal seeing and decision making. Cupcake sets the goal to raise money for his trip, and then has to make the decision to drop out of the band. Both of these topics are good for that age range.
Author: Sara Varon
Illustrator: Sara Varon
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction
Theme(s):
Opening line/sentence: “Oh, Cupcake, it looks delicious. My gardening club goes crazy for your carrot cake.”
Brief Book Summary: Cupcake wants to travel, so he uses his baked goods to raise money. But when a friend needs help Cupcake does everything he can for his friend’s happiness.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Leigh Geiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature) This quirky 158-page graphic novel may offer a little something for everyone. Very young children may enjoy the simply drawn anthropomorphized foods. Some adults may enjoy the adorable storyline and even a few of the enclosed recipes, which include brownies and dog treats. The primary audience, however, will be children in the third grade and above. Reluctant and advanced readers alike will enjoy the finer graphic details included throughout the majority of the panels. Some are comical including the accessories for each character s pets while others are poignant such as the Nothing is Special Today sign posted in the bakery when the owner, Cupcake, is depressed about losing his gig in the community band. In fact, the sparse text is barely necessary; the graphics carry the story which is about a cupcake that single-handedly runs his own bakery. When he learns that his best friend, an eggplant, is going to visit Turkey where the famous pastry chef Turkish Delight resides, Cupcake wants to join him. The baker works diligently to raise the money for the trip. When Eggplant loses his job, Cupcake gives his ticket to Eggplant. As he gives up his dreams of seeing Turkish Delight, Cupcake succumbs to a minor depression while his friend is away. The story ends with a hopeful although not definitive plan for the two friends to try to win a trip together. I do have some reservations about this book. The characters are all adults with business issues that won t resonant well with children, but their actions reflect their innocent nature so this may help young readers identify with their dilemmas. The text is not tightly written as the author wanders into situations that don’t drive the story, perhaps to provide an opportunity for more graphics. And finally, there is the cannibalistic nature of the characters--a cupcake that makes pastries, including cupcakes and then eats them may be disturbing if readers stop to consider this! 2011, First Second/Roaring Book Press, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12.
(PUBLISHER: First Second (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2011.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly) In a world of anthropomorphized food, Cupcake is a pink cupcake who runs his own bakery and idolizes the culinary work of Turkish Delight, a famous foreign chef. Cupcake's best friend, Eggplant, has a way for Cupcake to meet his idol, but first Cupcake must spend extra time earning enough money for the plane trip to Turkey. Cupcake has to drop out of the band he enjoys and go the extra mile to sell as many baked goods as he can. Much of the book shows Cupcake's hard work, which doesn't actually get him anywhere in the end because he gives his money to Eggplant who has lost his job instead. This seems to be showing that it's good to help others, and not to idolize when one can believe in oneself. However, it does make the ending feel a tad anticlimactic and as if nothing has been solved, since it seems that Cupcake has worked hard and pushed himself for nothing. Altogether the book has a mellow, easygoing feel, using soft colors and showing many yummy foods. As an added bonus, recipes for how to make the various scrumptious meals readers watch Cupcake prepare are provided. As in her previous Robot Dreams, Varon's art is simple and cozy, making this sweet tale a confection of its own. Ages 9 12. (Aug.)\n
(PUBLISHER: First Second (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2011.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: The first reviewer talks about Cupcake’s hard work (which the second review echos as well) and how it helps to show goal setting and perseverance. Although the problems that Eggplant and Cupcake face are adult, both reviewers say how the innocence of the characters would make them more relatable to children, but still appeal to everyone. I agree with this!
Evaluation of Literary Elements: Since this is graphic novel there is a lot of emphasize on the illustrations. There are double and single spreads as well as pages broken down in many segments. The colors chosen are more pastels than dark or really bright colors—seeming almost “confectionary”. Both Eggplant and Cupcake are extremely rounded also emphasizing their goodness.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This is a good book for upper elementary and middle schoolers. I would have this novel available in my classroom library. A lesson that could be used with this is goal seeing and decision making. Cupcake sets the goal to raise money for his trip, and then has to make the decision to drop out of the band. Both of these topics are good for that age range.
librariandest's review
3.0
It's not [b:Robot Dreams|41818|Robot Dreams (Masterworks of Science Fiction and Fantasy)|Isaac Asimov|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309206791s/41818.jpg|1398365], but it's (pun alert) sweet. Mainly it's about a little cupcake, a baker with big dreams, who ultimately puts friendship first. I thought the ending was anti-climactic, but this will surely please anyone looking for baking ideas and recipes.