Barker, Fiona. Big Christmas Bake, The. Pippa Curnick, Illus. Picture Book. Happy Yak, 10/2022. [30]pp. $4.99. 978-0-7112- 6814-2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-3.
In this takeoff of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” children bake a cake for the Twelfth Night Celebration which takes place eleven days after Christmas (Christmas being the first night). With simple, fourline poems on each page, the text clearly explains what Twelfth Night is and goes over the steps in making a cake from gathering ingredients to icing it. The colorful cartoon artwork (likely watercolors with ink outlines) depicts a Black boy and white girl as they create the cake, assisted by various animals. The book ends with the cake recipe and lyrics to the traditional song. This holiday book would be great for storytime and combines originality, information, and traditions in a clever way. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool