This book is and enjoyable book because it is quirky and charming. This book would be good for people who are quirky and people that like cartoons would like the darling characters. Other people that also might like the book are people that like to cook or bake because this book contains a lot of special recipes that Cupcake bakes. The main character is a cupcake named Cupcake, his best friend is an eggplant named Eggplant. The story takes place in what seems to be earth but in the past it seems because he has a radio in his bakery that does not seem very high tech and because there is only one car at the light when he is crossing the street. Another characteristic that makes this book very unique is how humans are only shown once and all the characters are foods. Although they are food and are edible they still have pets and walk on two legs with two arms. The plot is about friendship and never giving up.The art is very simple but still has characteristic in the drawings. For example the cupcake is very happy and cheerful pretty much all of the time and his icing is a happy pink and for an extra touch he has a cherry on top. His replacement for his band, the potato, is a pretty plain vegetable and along with the real vegetables reputation potatoes have a reputation in the world Cupcake lives in that potatoes have no rhythm. The pictures really help capture the characters feelings and expression, like for example how Cupcake was happy that Eggplant was able to go to Turkey to visit his aunt and Turkish Delight while he had to stay home.The story starts with Cupcake waking up then getting himself ready (which includes fluffing his cherry) and baking new fresh pastries for his bakery. It shows his routine that he goes through every morning. His best friend, eggplant, then tells him about how he is going to Turkey to visit his aunt and to meet Turkish Delight. Turkish Delight is Cupcakes idol and a famous chef. Cupcake asks if he could come and Eggplant responds telling him that he would have to buy his own ticket. This is the first conflict in the book, to raise extra money for his ticket Cupcake has to do extra bake sales after closing up shop or during certain events and holidays. But if he decides to do the bake sales he would have to take a break from his band. This part teaches us that we can’ always get what we want and sometimes we need to make important decisions.Cupcake decides he is going to leave the band for a while and goes along doing bake sales and being very creative and “expanding his horizons” and trying new things that correspond with the event or holiday. Once he raises up enough money Eggplant tells him about how he was laid off and can’t pay for his airplane ticket anymore. Cupcake decides that it would be best for Eggplant to go to Turkey instead of Cupcake ( after a nightmare in which a large Turkish Delight sits on Eggplant) and that Cupcake would pay for his ticket.Eggplant goes to Turkey and the next day Cupcake’s life slowly start to fall apart. First he wakes up late so he puts out his pastries and coffee from yesterday but the costumers aren’t too happy with that and he gives them a refund. Because of Sugar (one of his customers) he closes shop early and goes to the parade. He sees his band in the parade and notices the potato playing the drums (what Cupcake would play) and became a little bit more sad. Next to him at the parade was bacon who was overly excited and accidentally bumped of Cupcakes cherry and then it was squished by a Scottish pickle. Once he gets home he receives a postcard from Eggplant and Turkey and later replaces his cherry with a blueberry. In the next chapter (Chapter 6) Eggplant comes back and presents him with stories, pictures and a gift from Turkish Delight. Cupcake opens the gift to find spices and is very happy. He then serves Eggplant food and gives him a couple magazines. Eggplant finds a contest in the magazine with the first place prize being a trip for 2 to the country of your choice. Eggplant and Cupcake get to work and begin cooking as friends a recipe that is not shown and the book is ended with one last picture of both friends baking Cupcake’s famous cupcakes. Cupcake has it made. He has his own cupcake business, a best friend named Eggplant, and is in a band. However, cupcake is lacking inspiration and is gettting burnt out. So, Cupcake gets excited to hear that Eggplant is going to Turkey to see his cousin, Turkish Delight. Turkish Delight is a worldwide known chef. Eggplant invites Cupcake but where will Cupcake get the money to pay for such a trip? Cupcake is a cupcake on a mission. Will Cupcake be able to pay for this trip? Read to find out!Intended Grade Level: 1st grade- 3rd grade
What do You think about Bake Sale (2011)?
It was a fun little graphic novel which my brother recommended me to read.
—Lanti
Surprised by how much I enjoyed bits on the logistics of running a bakery.
—11111111hhhhh
Loved the illustrations as well as the story!
—Asj
