Stir Crack Whisk Bake

September 27, 2019

PreS-K-Baking cupcakes is so much fun. Today is special because it is a day to make cupcakes, and every utensil in the kitchen is ready to help. First, all of the ingredients have to be set out on the counter. Then, they are all measured into bowls and combined: wet ingredients in one bowl, dry ingredients in another. To finish up, the bowls' contents have to be combined and poured into pans to bake. After the cupcakes cool, it is time to add the finishing touches of frosting and sprinkles before savoring each scrumptious bite. Fans of Hervé Tullet's Press Here will adore the interactivity of this book. Each page encourages readers to participate in the process of baking, from dragging ingredients one by one onto the counter to blowing a kiss and making sprinkles appear. No two pages demand the same action, keeping readers guessing from one page to the next. Colorful, familiar kitchen utensils with friendly faces captivate readers' attention, inspiring many return visits to this book. The short, simple sentences are presented as complements to the illustrations and expertly guide readers through the actions required in baking. Constructed on board pages, this book is sure to withstand countless rereadings and inevitable time in the kitchen. VERDICT This wonderfully interactive, non-messy introduction to baking, though especially designed for preschoolers, will be an instant hit with readers of all ages.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2019
America's Test Kitchen invites young children to bake pretend cupcakes. Smiling bowls, cups, and spoons guide would-be cooks through the basic steps of baking. The instructions start out clearly: "First, we gather the ingredients." Then pretend takes over. Unfortunately, the applike instruction to "Use your finger to drag each one to the counter" makes no sense, as the ingredients don't actually move, and unlike Hervé Tullet's books, the page turn does not work the appropriate magic. Nor can the spilled flour on the next page be brushed off. Similarly, swiping a finger around the edge of a bowl will not mix batter, tapping pictures of eggs will not crack them, and bowls of dry and wet ingredients cannot be combined just by shaking them. Finally, after many pretend steps, the child can count down with the timer until the cupcakes are done. On the next spread they are asked to blow on the cakes to cool them enough to frost. Then a bowl of frosting magically arrives, and the child is invited to "dip your fingers in the frosting" to frost each cake. Yes, this is imaginary play. But simple, age-appropriate instructions--measure, mix, pour, bake, frost, sprinkle, enjoy--accompanied by clear illustrations would more effectively entice toddlers into the kitchen than this. Counterintuitively, there is no simple recipe with tips on baking with tots for caregivers. Sweet idea, but these cupcakes are missing some key ingredients. (Board book. 2-4)

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