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11th out of 20 books
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20 voters
Clever Jack Takes the Cake
Take a bite out of this deliciously funny original fairy tale, which received four starred reviews and was named a Best Book of the Year by Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and the Bank Street College of Education.
What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bak...more
What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bak...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
August 24th 2010
by Schwartz & Wade
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Written by Candace Fleming (2010) and illustrated by G. Brian Karas. New York: Schwartz & Wade. This is a great picture book about a little poor boy who got an invitation to come to the prinecess's 10th birthday party. He decided to make her a cake as a present. He bartered for the ingredients, found some of them, exchanged others and made the cake. Then in taking the cake to the party he had some misfortunes along the way, losing parts of the cake. By the time he got to the party he only ha...more
Audience: The audience for this book is primary elementary school. I think it best fits second and third grade because it involves the understanding that back in the day people were poor and had to sell some of their most precious items in order to make a birthday present or do anything when they had no money.
Appeal: I think it definitely appeals to second through fourth graders because they love adventures. The boy in the book goes through a lot of adventures just to get to the castle to be at...more
Appeal: I think it definitely appeals to second through fourth graders because they love adventures. The boy in the book goes through a lot of adventures just to get to the castle to be at...more
“Clever Jack Takes the Cake” is a about a boy who is very poor. One day he finds an invitation from the King to the Princess’ tenth birthday party. Jack does not think he can go though because he has no money to buy her a gift and he has nothing of value to give her. Then he realizes he has all of the things he needs to make the Princess a lovely birthday cake. He prepares this amazing cake, but on his long journey to the Princess’ castle the cake gets destroyed and eaten by various things along...more
When Jack in Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Fleming is invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party, he does not know what to do. Jack is a poor boy living far away from the castle. With no money for a gift, Jack uses what he has to make a scrumptious cake. The problem is taking the cake to the castle. On his way through a prairie, over a bridge, and through scary woods, Jack meets many animals and creatures who agree that his cake looks delicious. So delicious, in fact, that they migh...more
Fleming, C. & Karas, G.B. (2010). Clever Jack Takes the Cake. New York: Random House.
Appetizer: Jack, along with all the other children in the kingdom, has been invited to the princess's tenth birthday party. Since he doesn't have any riches to offer as a gift, he decides to bake the princess a cake. But on the way to the castle, Jack encounters some trouble. So much trouble that he can't be certain he'll arrive with the cake in hand or even arrive at all.
At the beginning of the story, Jack...more
Appetizer: Jack, along with all the other children in the kingdom, has been invited to the princess's tenth birthday party. Since he doesn't have any riches to offer as a gift, he decides to bake the princess a cake. But on the way to the castle, Jack encounters some trouble. So much trouble that he can't be certain he'll arrive with the cake in hand or even arrive at all.
At the beginning of the story, Jack...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I'd have given this 3 stars, but my 5 yr. old son adored it and it makes sense to take a child's reaction into account when rating a child's book. Jack overcomes dangers and hardships to deliver an ever-diminishing birthday gift to the princess. Throughout, he is brave, resourceful, and plucky. His complete lack of self-pity and despair are subtly conveyed and perhaps only readily apparent to adult readers -- this is no dreary, moralistic tale! Children will enjoy the drama as Jack meets each ch...more
Description: A poor boy named Jack who helps a princess is a familiar trope in folklore. In this original tale, Jack accidentally receives an invitation to the princess's birthday party. He resourcefully gathers ingredients and bakes a wonderful cake. On his way to the castle, the cake is slowly demolished by crows, a troll, a spooky forest, a dancing bear, and even a palace guard, until the only present Jack has to offer the princess is the story of the cake's demise. Of course, this gift pleas...more
DELIGHTFUL READ ALOUD...
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3 A poor boy named Jack who helps a princess is a familiar trope in folklore. In this original tale, Jack accidentally receives an invitation to the princess's birthday party. He resourcefully gathers ingredients and bakes a wonderful cake. On his way to the castle, the cake is slowly demolished by crows, a troll, a spooky forest, a dancing bear, and even a palace guard, until the only present Jack has to offer...more
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3 A poor boy named Jack who helps a princess is a familiar trope in folklore. In this original tale, Jack accidentally receives an invitation to the princess's birthday party. He resourcefully gathers ingredients and bakes a wonderful cake. On his way to the castle, the cake is slowly demolished by crows, a troll, a spooky forest, a dancing bear, and even a palace guard, until the only present Jack has to offer...more
What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bake the princess a cake. Now he just has to get it to the castle in one piece. What could possibly go wrong?
Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas, team up again to bring us a modern fairy tale starring a determined boy & a story-loving princess with a good sense of humor. While girls will fall for a story featuring a princess’s birthday party, Jack’s adven...more
Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas, team up again to bring us a modern fairy tale starring a determined boy & a story-loving princess with a good sense of humor. While girls will fall for a story featuring a princess’s birthday party, Jack’s adven...more
Nominated for NYRA 2012, "Clever Jack" is a clever story about a poor boy who, one day, receives an invitation for the princess' birthday party. He exchanges his little knick-knacks for ingredients to bake a three-layered cake topped with the juiciest strawberry to take as gift to the princess. On his path to the party, Jack encounters birds, a troll, and a bear, each eating one layer of the cake. At last, when Jack reaches the castle, the guard eats the strawberry because the princess is allerg...more
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Dublin Literacy Conference in Dublin, Ohio. It stunned me that a public school district organizes such a brilliant event each year that inspires teachers with ideas on how to best incorporate literacy into their classrooms. In addition to the author presentations and workshops, there were plenty of books available for purchase. The true jackpot for me was an area full of hardback picture books for only $5.00 a piece! This little gem: "Clever J...more
Clever Jack Takes the Cake was a story about how Jack went through many troubles to make the princess a cake for her birthday. In the end, she didn't want presents, she wanted a friendship. I thought this book had a really good lesson for kids at the end of it. The audience for this book would be meore geared towards first grade through third grade. I think it's a good fit for that age group because when you're young you might not really understand that gifts aren't everything. Sometimes it's go...more
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Elements of folktale sift throughout Jack's tale as he tries to bring the most delicious looking cake to the Princess's birthday party. He sacrifices all he has to concoct a fine looking cake and sets out on his journey to the castle. Along the way, he encounters many a foe that gradually pick away at his masterpiece. (view spoiler)...more
Elements of folktale sift throughout Jack's tale as he tries to bring the most delicious looking cake to the Princess's birthday party. He sacrifices all he has to concoct a fine looking cake and sets out on his journey to the castle. Along the way, he encounters many a foe that gradually pick away at his masterpiece. (view spoiler)...more
Audience: This book is primarily for grades K-3. The pictures will help explain the fairy tale to the younger grade levels and the imaginative story will be understood by the older grade levels.
Appeal: This book is appealing because the cover leaves the students wondering what this clever boy is doing with this cake. When looking in the pictures, they see the action packed adventures that this boy is going on.
Application: I would use this book to talk to students about the value of things in lif...more
Appeal: This book is appealing because the cover leaves the students wondering what this clever boy is doing with this cake. When looking in the pictures, they see the action packed adventures that this boy is going on.
Application: I would use this book to talk to students about the value of things in lif...more
Once upon a time Jack was invited to the Princess's 10th birthday party but his mother told him he nothing fine enough to give as a gift. Undeterred, Jack traded his few posessions for the ingrediants to make a fine birthday cake. When complete the cake was two layers with sweet frosting, a sweet large strawberry, and 10 hand dipped candles. Setting out on his journey Jack encountered may obstacles and as his travels to the castle progressed Jacks gift was slowly used. Upon arrival in front of t...more
A really fun read aloud for K - 2. Clever Jack is invited to the princess's 10th birthday party. Alas, he has nothing fine to give her and no money to buy a gift. Instead, he decides to bake her a delicious cake; he barters or finds the ingredients himself. On his way to the party, his cake is eaten or given away bit by bit. When he finally meets the princess, the best he can do is offer his story as an excuse. The princess interprets the excuse as an excellent adventure story and everyone has a...more
When Jack receives an invitation to the Princess's 10th Birthday Party he is excited about the chance to go, but he has nothing fine enough to give as a gift. He decides to use what he has to barter for the ingredients to bake the Princess a beautiful birthday cake. Beautiful it is, but things go terribly wrong on the trip to the party, and Jack is left with nothing to offer the Princess.
As clever as Jack himself, this picture book is great fun. Brian Karas' lively illustrations lend a whimsica...more
As clever as Jack himself, this picture book is great fun. Brian Karas' lively illustrations lend a whimsica...more
When a book is hitting all cylinders, it's a beautiful thing, that's what we have here. Outstanding storytelling and illustration. Jack Takes the Cake is a succulent gem that highlights a resourceful boy on his quest to deliver a birthday cake to the princess.
I see two main themes here - resourcefulness and the value of a good story, which is hard to deny.
Fleming's text is excellent - descriptive, with a good amount of repetition.
The illustrations enhance the story. Examining the endpapers provi...more
I see two main themes here - resourcefulness and the value of a good story, which is hard to deny.
Fleming's text is excellent - descriptive, with a good amount of repetition.
The illustrations enhance the story. Examining the endpapers provi...more
Candace Fleming used the Clever Jack template to launch a a completely refreshing and new story. Jack broke through some gender role walls by baking a cake decorated with walnuts and a succulent red strawberry for the princess, but the main message that genuine human interaction is worth more than rubies or tiaras can't be heard too many times by the little princesses of the world. Some picture books with this amount of text won't hold the attention of a group of children, but this story had the...more
Audience - Ages 3 to third grade, teachers, parents
Appeal - This story is about a young boy who trades a few of his precious items for ingredients for a cake. He makes the princess a beautiful cake with the biggest juiciest strawberry in the middle. But on his journey to deliver the cake he has to go through several challenges along the way and by the time he reaches the castle he no longer has the cake. Now he has to explain it to to the princess who loves the story he has told her. This book w...more
Appeal - This story is about a young boy who trades a few of his precious items for ingredients for a cake. He makes the princess a beautiful cake with the biggest juiciest strawberry in the middle. But on his journey to deliver the cake he has to go through several challenges along the way and by the time he reaches the castle he no longer has the cake. Now he has to explain it to to the princess who loves the story he has told her. This book w...more
Oooh! One of my many favorites on this year's Texas Bluebonnet list! Jack has no present to take to the princess' birthday party, so he does the next best thing and bakes her a cake. But on his way to party, he encounters a troll, a gypsy and her bear, a dark forest, and many other obstacles...will all his hard work be for nothing?
The kids enjoyed this book, as did I. The icing on the cake (yes, pun intended) was showing the class a clip of Cake Boss when one of their cakes they worked so hard...more
The kids enjoyed this book, as did I. The icing on the cake (yes, pun intended) was showing the class a clip of Cake Boss when one of their cakes they worked so hard...more
This book can be for a boy or a girl. The grade can be a 1st grader or higher. The book is a good read because this boy name Jack has no money,but comes up with a idea that he will make something for the princess instead of buying something because he does not have any money for any present. So Jack makes a cake for the princess, but on the way he came upon some problems and when he ends up with coming to the princess's party. He told her of what happened to his gift and the princess liked his s...more
When Jack is invited to the party for the princess, he doesn't know what to bring the girl who has everything. Deciding to bake her a cake, he's off to present his gift. Along the way, Jack encounters adversity and loses his cake bit by bit. Finally making it to the party, he is empty handed. Will he still have something to give the princess?
I love the theme of the book, and the story is cute. The pictures are a little too dark for me, especially for a children's book. While it's a great read,...more
I love the theme of the book, and the story is cute. The pictures are a little too dark for me, especially for a children's book. While it's a great read,...more
Audience: The audience for this book would be primary grades, especially first through third.
Appeal: This book is appealing the younger students because it is a fairy-tale and children love fairy-tales and birthday parties. It also is about making something out of nothing which is pretty magical.
Application: I would use this book in the classroom to teach that the thought counts and that the greatest gifts of all are the ones that you don’t need to buy. This book is also great for prediction mak...more
Appeal: This book is appealing the younger students because it is a fairy-tale and children love fairy-tales and birthday parties. It also is about making something out of nothing which is pretty magical.
Application: I would use this book in the classroom to teach that the thought counts and that the greatest gifts of all are the ones that you don’t need to buy. This book is also great for prediction mak...more
When you, a poor boy, use all your resources to make the princess a beautiful cake for her tenth birthday, but a series of unfortunate events (crows, a troll, a bear) finds you arriving at her throne empty-handed, do you have anything left to give? If you're Clever Jack, you have a great story!
Loved this cumulative (or is it subtractive?) story with a twist. It would make a great flannel or storytelling choice, too. From the author/illustrator combo who did Muncha Muncha Muncha.
Loved this cumulative (or is it subtractive?) story with a twist. It would make a great flannel or storytelling choice, too. From the author/illustrator combo who did Muncha Muncha Muncha.
Jack doesn't have money to by a gift for the princess on her 10th birthday, so he enterprisingly makes use of what he has or barters to obtain the ingredients for an extraordinary cake. He kisses the cow on her nose for a pail of her sweetest milk and dips the candles himself. On the way to the castle Jack encounters a troll, 4 and 20 blackbirds, and a host of other troubles so that he winds up empty handed in front of the princess. So he tells her his story . . . which turns out to be a wonderf...more
This was definitely too wordy for a bedtime book for an infant. I thought I'd have to divide it over two nights (which is something I do sometimes since at this point my son doesn't really know the difference and I'm reading more for myself and to get him into the habit of bedtime stories anyway) but he was in a nursing-and-relaxing sort of mood so we got through the whole thing in one sitting. It reads like an old-fashioned fairy tale and has a nice little lesson praising the virtues of a good...more
Jack is back in another tale of cleverness overcoming obstacles. In this whimsically illustrated book, however, Jack does not use his famous wits to outdo evil foes. Instead, he devises a plan to make sure he has a birthday present to bring to the princess and continually revises it as he is persuaded to share parts of the gift with various characters along his journey to the castle. Read it just for the fun of the story, or read it as a reminder that no matter how little you have, you always ha...more
Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming
Jack is back in another tale of cleverness overcoming obstacles. In this whimsically illustrated book, however, Jack does not use his famous wits to outdo evil foes. Instead, he devises a plan to make sure he has a birthday present to bring to the princess and continually revises it as he is persuaded to share parts of the gift with various characters along his journey to the castle. Read it just for the fun of the story, or read it as a reminder that...more
Jack is back in another tale of cleverness overcoming obstacles. In this whimsically illustrated book, however, Jack does not use his famous wits to outdo evil foes. Instead, he devises a plan to make sure he has a birthday present to bring to the princess and continually revises it as he is persuaded to share parts of the gift with various characters along his journey to the castle. Read it just for the fun of the story, or read it as a reminder that...more
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I have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good st...more
More about Candace Fleming...
I told such a good st...more
