When I heard that one of my favorite children’s authors had written a new book, I was quick to go and put it on hold at the library. While looking through the pages for Karma Wilson books I saw quite a few that I wasn’t familiar with. I felt like a kid a candy store and put a whole bunch of them on hold. One of our favorites has been Whopper Cake.

Margaret K. McElderry Books and imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing published this 32 page hardcover 2007 book with a jacket price of $16.99 US and $19.99 CAN.

This book is recommended for children from 4 – 8 years old and I do feel this is a good age recommendation. 4 year old Sonny and 6 year old Dee enjoyed this book, but 2 ½ year old Cindy listened but I don’t think she could really understand the story or what was going on.

Granddad decides to make a whopper chocolate cake for Grandma’s birthday, of course the kitchen might never be the same.

Granddad gets out the recipe but decides to increase the ingredients to make it a much bigger and grander cake for Grandma.

”I’m sure no cook,” says Granddad,
“but it would seem to me,
two cups of sugar ain’t enough
I’ll put in twenty-three.”
(Twenty-three pounds, that is…)

It isn’t any wonder the cake gets bigger and bigger until he needs an oar to be able to stir it. This is where the children all go “ewwwww” and tell me that the oar has been in the water with the fish. The giggles abound and of course at least one of them will say “that’s disgusting!” Especially when Granddad licks the oar.

Because the cake is so big it takes the town using shovels to help spread the frosting (another ewwww moment) and then the waiting for Grandma begins. Grandma is properly surprised but doesn’t understand why so much is done for her.

”Your heart’s so big,” say Granddad,
“you deserve a Whopper Cake!”

Of course Grandma reminds him that he needs to clean up his mess.

The illustrations are fun and silly and done in cartoon style with lots of details to add to this silly story.

Will Hillenbrand did the illustrations in ink and egg tempera on canvas. Each page is filled edge to edge with drawings and has a background scene as well as the activity of the page. We see the kitchen on one page, but it is mostly done in orange. On another page we see Granddad’s truck going over a hill and the sky is orange and yellow but off in the distance we can see the town and the cars following Granddad.

I, as well as my daycare children have enjoyed looking at these pages and discovering new things, new details and new fun things to giggle about.

I absolutely adore this book. It is silly enough to hold the attention of early elementary school children and yet preschoolers will enjoy it as well. I love that the Granddad went to as much trouble as he did to surprise Grandma, even if he did make a huge mess, his heart was in the right place.

Dee especially enjoyed this book and was able to read some of the words with me. While it isn’t meant as a child’s early reader there are some familiar words and Dee felt very proud of herself as she was able to read them with me.

I think Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers would have a great time reading this to their classes and that the children would have a great time hearing it, I know my little group sure did.

ISBN: 0689838441


Recommended: Yes