School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-When Red Hen finds a recipe for "simply splendid cake," she repeatedly asks the cat, the rat, and the frog for help gathering the ingredients; mixing the batter; and baking, icing, and decorating it. The cat and the rat provide the familiar "not I" response, but the frog croaks out a humorous "bribbit." Fortunately, as the bright, bold illustrations reveal, four little black birds are more than happy to help Red Hen make and eat the cake. Set against white backgrounds, the zany characters, each with uniquely distinct eyes, pop off the pages. The recipe for the cake is appended. The short, simple text allows for instant audience participation and offers a satisfying lesson on cooperation and fairness. A perfect read-aloud for storytime, this is another fresh, fun twist on a well-loved folktale.-Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
As they did in Chicken Little (2009), the Emberleys present a stylish take on a well-known fable. Shapes and colors collide playfully in hyperbolic collages-the animals' crazed, mismatched eyes alone should elicit giggles. Finding a recipe for "simply splendid cake," the hen thinks, "This would be a treat for all of us." The story unravels simply and traditionally, with the baker seeking help from the lazy lookers-on-a cat, rat, and frog. Still, the Emberleys inject humor of their own into the retelling: while the cat and rat answer with the expected "Not I," the spotted amphibian offers a "Bribbit" each time. The visual piece de resistance is the finished confection, festively decorated (by guess who) with flowers, stars, and garlands of frosting. Along the way, the Emberleys hint at the hen's growing irritation ("She pretty much knew what was coming..."), which culminates in her eating the cake with help from her perky black chicks. A cake recipe caps off this capricious rendition-wise readers will remember the story well if mom and dad ask for help baking. Ages 3-7. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
