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A review by obrill
Bake Sale by Sara Varon
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.