The Cactus Flower Bakery - Hardcover

Allard, Harry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060200472 ISBN 13: 9780060200473

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1991

Synopsis

A nearsighted armadillo meets an ostracized snake in the desert and, not realizing what kind of animal she is, helps her open a bakery.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

Allard's latest, a sweet but insubstantial tale about the dangers of judging by appearances, lacks the inspired silliness of his titles in the Stupids series. Sunny is a gregarious green snake who lives in the middle of the Texas desert, and she doesn't understand why everyone runs away from her. Unfortunately, the text is ill served by the illustrations: outfitted in a gemutlich pink bonnet and a checkered apron, big-eyed Sunny looks about as threatening as a well-worn stuffed toy. Nevertheless the sight of Sunny strikes panic in her would-be visitors, until Stewart the armadillo shows up. His glasses are broken and while he awaits a new pair, Sunny plies him with pastry. They become great friends and set up a bakery together. With the proceeds they replace Stewart's glasses--but when his sight is restored, he, too, shrieks with terror and flees. Eventually they are reconciled, the bakery is reopened and Stewart solves Sunny's PR problem. Delaney's contributions to the humor here--such as a snail's delivering the mail--may elude young readers. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3 --Sunny McFarland is a Texas rattlesnake. She can't understand why everyone runs away from her and is lonely until Stewart, an armadillo who has lost his glasses, wanders into her life. They hit it off and open a bakery together until Stewart can afford a new pair of glasses. When he discovers that his friend is a snake, he takes off. She goes into a decline, Stewart comes back feeling like a heel, and they're back in business. Nowhere in Allard's mildly amusing text is it stated that Sunny is a rattlesnake. Only the bright watercolor illustrations (and for some reason she is green) give readers a clue. The writing style is simplistic, with lots of exclamation points. Delaney's cartoons and the book's design are inviting. An additional purchase rather than an essential one.
- JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0060200472
• ISBN 13: 9780060200473
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: DeLaney Ned