Ella Takes the Cake

September 1, 2005
K-Gr 2 -The star of "Ella the Elegant Elephant" (Scholastic, 2004) returns for another adventure. Here, she wants to help in the bakery, but her mother thinks she is too little to do anything but sweep. Finally she is allowed to deliver a cake in her wooden wagon. She meets with many obstacles on her way, including bossy Belinda and a steep incline. When Ella successfully delivers the cake, she proves to herself and to her mother that she can be responsible. As in the first book, the D'Amicos create a sunny Mediterranean Elephant Island with bright pastels and colored pencil. The characters, though drawn with scant lines, have personality and charm. The story bogs down a little with dull dialogue near the beginning but picks up as the resourceful young elephant nears her goal. Fans of Elegant Ella will welcome this new tale; for others, it is a secondary purchase." -Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2005
PreS-K. Ella, who debuted in " Ella the Elegant Elephant" (2004), returns to show herself as a take-charge child. Ella and Mother live in Little Village, which, with its whitewashed buildings and ocean views, seems to be a pachyderm French Riviera. At her mother's bakery, Ella always asks to help. Unfortunately, Mom thinks a job such as slicing pie is too dangerous, so Ella she comes up with a job of her own--delivering a three-tiered cake in a wagon pulled by her bike. (The incongruity of this being safer than a cutting a pie seems odd.) Ella's friend hitches a ride, and, feeling helpful, asks Mr. Saw if he would like them to return his pile of library books. She then leaves Ella to finish the job, during which the cake nearly slides out of the wagon. Fortunately, Ella's magic hat and her own fortitude save the day. There are a few text glitches, but this has so much child appeal and such delightful artwork that it's hard to quibble. The pictures evoke both de Brunoff and Rey, but charming Ella makes the story her own. Especially fine are D'Amico's detailed, richly colored settings, always focused on what kids want to see. This has favorite book potential. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)