Synopsis
Eight eager animals are more than happy to help make their perfect cake, but there are simply too many hands on it when it comes out of the oven and so disaster strikes, in a tale with Spanish and English text.
Reviews
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Following the same format as in Eight Animals on the Town (Putnam, 2000), with Spanish words carefully integrated into the text, endearing animals each bring an ingredient for the cake they hope to bake. "Dog brings the egg, one huevo to beat. `Hurry up,' Perro says. `I want to eat.'" Each neatly rhymed couplet is accompanied by a framed and bordered illustration that extends the humor of the text. Perro prances merrily down the path, balancing his huevo jauntily on his nose, to the amazement of some watching chickens. The English translations of the Spanish words appear in the borders so there is no interruption or confusion in the story line. The paintings are a richly colored combination of cartoon and Mexican folk art that perfectly captures the animals' eager anticipation. Most libraries will agree with these delightful characters when they say, "M s, por favor."-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Having made a bilingual foray to the market in Eight Animals on the Town, Raton (Mouse), Gato (Cat) and friends now tackle the culinary arts and add 33 Spanish vocabulary words in Eight Animals Bake a Cake by Susan Middleton Elya, illus. by Lee Chapman. Each animal brings one ingredient to the cake-baking session (recipe appears at the end): "Dog brings the egg, one huevo to beat. `Hurry up,' Perro says. `I want to eat.' " Chapman's paintings glow with south-of-the-border colors and a Mexican folk-art spirit; whimsically patterned frames contain translation equations ("Dog = Perro," "Egg = Huevo" and so on). Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Another winner from the team who created Eight Animals on the Town (2000). Eight (ocho) animals prepare to bake a cake, each one bringing an important ingredient. When it's time to take it out of the oven, a fight over who will do it results in cake splattered everywhere. Horse (caballo) saves the day by buying pineapple and cherries to turn the disaster into--pineapple upside-down cake! The story is told in rhyme, with Spanish interspersed throughout the English text; a glossary and pronunciation guides are conveniently located at the front of the book, and key Spanish words appear in the picture borders. Framed illustrations in hot pink, fuchsia, and teal blue accentuate the action and reactions. A winning story, amusing art, Spanish vocabulary, and a recipe for pineapple upside-down cake are compatible ingredients for a delicious picture book, clever in both concept and design. Ole! Julie Cummins
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