At the Cafe Splendid

Adele plans a magic show for her birthday celebration at the Cafe Splendid, but her little brother almost ruins her plans.

Kindergarten-Grade 3 A pointless, bizarre story about a little girl and her brother who, with their mother, have tea at the Cafe Splendid every Friday. On her birthday, Adele does her magic show at the cafe, and Victor disappears. Here the story collapses, for Victor's disappearance is simply an excuse for some not-very-funny chase scenes and chain reactions. Two obvious questions arise: why did Victor start running, and why doesn't the mother put a stop to the havoc that her kids are causing in this very fancy restaurant? Denton's droll watercolor illustrations, filled with people with exaggerated features engaged in lively conversations, steal the show here, but they can't compensate for the pedestrian writing and a story that has as much substance as watered-down soup. Trev Jones, "School Library Journal"
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Cafe Splendid is familiar territory for Adele and her brother Victor. They go there with their mother every Friday afternoon. The chef is used to Victor sitting in his kitchen, and Adele is regularly in view sipping on her lime milkshake. For her birthday she has the chance to perform her magic act at the cafe, but Victor, her assistant, disappears with her top hat, wand and bag of tricks. Soon, the cafe becomes a stage for chasing, hiding, running and noise-making. Adele can't spot Victor, but she does see the remains of her tricks, which he has ruined. Then, the real surprisea cake and well-wishes from an adoring public. And Adele joins in the fanfare and comes up with one last trick. Scratchy black lines, eccentric shading and harlequin colors give the Cafe Splendid a carnival-like atmosphere not usually associated with the formal, sometimes oppressive world of adult eating-places. The trick is that Denton makes the cafe such a hospitable place, just another space for hide-and-seek, and one that welcomes readers as well. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.