Poor Vanilla Cupcake. He's feeling a bit drab next to his fancy brothers and sisters. But when his new pal, Candle, comes along with some fresh ide...
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Aug 17, 2010
Tasha
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Vanilla Cupcake is born after ingredients are mixed together and he is baked in a toasty warm oven. He is decorated with plain vanilla frosting and then meets all of the other cupcakes that have been decorated in a much more fancy way. By the end of the day, he is the only cupcake that remains and hasn’t sold. He bursts into tears and a candle nearby hears him crying. Cupcake explains what has happened and the plain green candle understands because he has very fancy siblings of his own. The
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Apr 15, 2010
Cassie
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Ahh yes, a book about a cupcake. Can't say that I've ever heard of one before, and that's a good thing. New and different; that's what I like. Sure, Cupcake is basically a story teaching the reader that being plain and different is ok, and that has been done before, but never with a Charise Mericle Harper twist. The lesson doesn't hit you in the face. You don't read her books expecting to learn something; you read her books anticipating enjoyment and a funny ending - the learning part is a
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Feb 10, 2010
Elizabeth
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You play dirty pool, Charise Mericle Harper. It isn't enough that you've a brand new and very sparkly picture book out. Oh no. You had to go and write one about a cupcake. Cupcakes! The world's most perfect, most delicious food. How is any gatekeeper of children's literature (teachers, parents, librarians, booksellers, etc.) going to resist a book that stars the world's ultimate tasty treat? Unfair, say I. Then I remember that there's nothing stopping the other authors out there from writing the
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Oct 17, 2011
Bea
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I love when books try to make plain people feel special but I don't know if this one quiet reaches a convincing end. Vanilla cupcake doesn't get picked because she's not special and makes friends with candle who doesn't get picked because he's not special so he tries to help her become more special with a variety of toppings but nothing works. Its silly and thats nice and theres a cupcake recipe included so you could do more activity/conversation with it but it never really resolves anything
Jan 18, 2012
Sarah
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Vanilla Cupcake is creamy white, perfectly plain, and most certainly delicious. Cupcake is proud to be part of a colorful family that includes fancy flower-top cupcake and Polkadot cupcake, but pride turns to sorrow. Cupcake is left alone on the plate. Candle decides to help out by sprucing up Cupcake with everything from pancakes to stinky cheese. The silly combinations and Harper's simple, colorful drawings will make young children laugh. Gr. PreK-1.
Mar 06, 2011
Danie
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Cupcake is born but does not feel as special as his sparkly, stripy, glitter brothers and sisters. He is left all alone until he meets Candle. Candle has very unique brothers and sisters too and understands what it is to be plain. Candle comes up with an idea to make Cupcake feel more unique. Laughter is sure to follow when readers find out what kind of toppings Candle comes up with for Cupcake...squirrel anyone?
Apr 21, 2011
Kristl
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Cute little story. I can't help but think that this very perfectly parallels any amount of romantic comedy stories out there. "Hello, let's be sad and lonely together." "What shall we do?" "Oh, let me set you up." ... "Okay, that didn't work." "Oh, um, how about me?" Yeah, it was distracting to have all that going on, but still, quite cute.
Nov 14, 2011
Emerson
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This book was from my Aunt Becca! When she gave me the book, I was mainly reading board books. Now that I'm reading more regular books, we read this one this weekend. Or rather, we read it about 20 times. I really liked it a lot! I don't get the humor quite yet, but the illustrations are fun. And who doesn't love cupcakes???
May 18, 2010
Becky
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Beyond adorable, though I will warn you, there is a scene where the cupcake cries because no one picks him, and something about pictures of things crying always gets to me. Read this aloud on Saturday and the kids found the ending a little perplexing. I was glad, however, that it wasn't a cliche ending.
May 17, 2011
Laura
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This a story about a little cupcake who's sad because he's "plain old vanilla", and the birthday candle who tries to cheer him up. My 2 year old daughter loved the illustrations. The happy and sad faces on the cupcake made her giggle, and since it's a quick read it held her attention the whole time.
Sep 18, 2010
Anna
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This was an adorable children's book. Funny, I went into the library today to pick up some young adult books, maybe a couple movies. And I saw this book on the counter, and had to check it out. :] I'm a sucker for a cute book cover and this one definitely has that. It's adorable book.
Apr 06, 2010
Gwen the Librarian
rated it:
Perfectly sweet story about a cupcake and a candle. Cupcake is plain vanilla and is left behind after the fancier cupcakes are chosen first. Candle is just a plain birthday candle that isn't a shape or striped or tall and skinny. Together they come up with the perfect combination.
Feb 24, 2010
Bonnie
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Love, love, love this book! And not just because it makes me want to go make (and eat) cupcakes. Think Arnie the Doughnut meets Piggie and Elephant. Even without sprinkles he's the tastiest thing I've read lately and the kindergarteners loved his story as much as the grown-ups did.
Feb 18, 2010
Meredith
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What is it about talking food that always makes for such great books? I think the cupcake should have been happy that no one ate him, (her? Do cupcakes have a gender?) but not being a cupcake myself, I suppose I shouldn't pass judgement. Perhaps food likes to be eaten...
May 12, 2011
Joy
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Wow, cupcakes are so trendy that they are now talking characters in picture books! Anyway, plain Vanilla Cupcake feels plain and sad until he meets Candle. Really not much story here, but I give an extra star for the squirrel, because I am easily amused.
Oct 10, 2011
Amy
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My daughter(4.5) and I borrowed this book from the library. It's a sweet story about a cupcake that thinks he's just too plain, it's a cute story. She wanted to read it again right after we finished.
Mar 26, 2010
Kate Hastings
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A generic, vanilla frosted cupcake is feeling left out when all his decorated friends are chosen. Then his candle friend has a few ideas for how to dress up. Delicious sillyness. Ages 2-5.
Dec 31, 2010
Jennifer
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Bought this for a foodie friend's baby and the book is adorable! You even get recipes for plain vanilla cupcakes and buttercream icing. I kinda want to keep it. :-)
Jul 29, 2011
Little vanilla cupcake is feeling rather plain compared to her brothers and sisters. A friend -Candle- helps cheer Cupcake up with some silly toppings.
Feb 03, 2010
Crystal
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Yes. The cupcake longs to be cute and colorful like its fellow pan-mates so that it too can leave and be freeee--in our mouths.
Apr 15, 2010
April (CSI:Librarian)
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Subtitle is: A Journey to Special. Very cute, clever, and brightly-colored but would only work with older kids.
Feb 16, 2010
meg
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just when i thought my cupcake cravings couldn't get any stronger. d'oh! charise mericle harper is one smart cookie.
Feb 06, 2010
Tricia
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Vanilla cupcake is sort of plain...but when a new friend comes along (Candle) they form a fast friendship.
Oct 17, 2010
Lesley
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Surprisingly cute and clever! This book is a little charmer! I like the illustrations too.
Feb 06, 2010
Julia
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Adorable and it includes the recipe to make deliciously plain vanilla cupcakes with frosting!
Jun 26, 2011
Karen
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So, Caroline is obsessed with cupcakes, right? This was an obvious birthday choice. She delights in the pictures of Cupcake's fancy-schmancy brothers and sisters. And while she may not quite grasp everything else that is funny about Charise Mericle Harper's book at two, as the reader, I certainly can. The ending is priceless- this one is right up there with Mo Willems's hilarious Pigeon books for me.
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Mar 05, 2011
Rebecca
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Wonderful story line and one that everyone should learn-young and young at heart.
Feb 09, 2011
Heather
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Very cute and silly. I love the illustrations and the two silly friends.
Feb 09, 2011
Ginny
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Love Love LOVE!
I just want to take Vanilla home and eat him aaaaallllll up!
I just want to take Vanilla home and eat him aaaaallllll up!
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