Take a bite out of this deliciously funny original fairy tale by a bestselling picture-book duo!
What would you do if you were invited to th... read full description
What would you do if you were invited to th... read full description
reviews
Jun 20, 2011
Megan
rated it: 
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
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Apr 05, 2011
Gretchen
rated it:
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
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Mar 20, 2011
Sunday
rated it:
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 ha 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 ha More...
Oct 27, 2010
David
rated it:
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 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 More...
Feb 15, 2012
Mary
rated it: 
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
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Apr 21, 2011
Stephanie
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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
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May 28, 2011
Laura
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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
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Apr 29, 2011
babyhippoface
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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 len More...
As clever as Jack himself, this picture book is great fun. Brian Karas' lively illustrations len More...
Oct 31, 2010
Reader
rated it: 
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 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 More...
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Jan 06, 2011
Julie
rated it:
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 th
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Apr 26, 2011
Becky
rated it:
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. More...
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. More...
Mar 16, 2011
Robin
rated it:
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
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Feb 04, 2011
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 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 More...
Nov 09, 2011
Marilyn
rated it:
Jack is on his way tot the castle with the Princess's cake for her birthday. In the end, the cake doesn't make it. But as he explains his day to the princess, she is overjoyed that he brought her a story for her birthday. Clever. His present was her favorite and therefore "took the cake".
I like this book even more after the 2nd reading. Jack has NOTHING, the princess has everything. He clearly has the better life. His response to challenge and difficulty is always, " More...
I like this book even more after the 2nd reading. Jack has NOTHING, the princess has everything. He clearly has the better life. His response to challenge and difficulty is always, " More...
Oct 29, 2011
Claire
rated it:
We are every bit as charmed by Jack as the princess!
The children of the land are all invited to the Princess's birthday party. Poor Jack is stumped as to what to give the Princess and decided to splurge on a cake!
As he proudly travels to the castle with the wonderful cake he is beset on all sides by plundering animals and even palace guards (shocking, really!). When he greets the Princess who is surrounded by heaps of presents all Jack can offer is the tale of the cake and its travels. More...
The children of the land are all invited to the Princess's birthday party. Poor Jack is stumped as to what to give the Princess and decided to splurge on a cake!
As he proudly travels to the castle with the wonderful cake he is beset on all sides by plundering animals and even palace guards (shocking, really!). When he greets the Princess who is surrounded by heaps of presents all Jack can offer is the tale of the cake and its travels. More...
Sep 25, 2011
Jess
rated it:
Jack is too poor to buy a birthday present for the princess, but perhaps he could bake her a cake.
I don't know that the princess is worthy of the sacrifice. Perhaps if she wasn't so bored by the abundance she is given? Something about the bear bit bugged me, but I can't identify why. Nonetheless, a sweet tale.
Reminded me of a Christmas story involving a clockmaker and an apple my mom read to me as a child. It's in a Christmas anthology. I'll look up the pertinent details More...
I don't know that the princess is worthy of the sacrifice. Perhaps if she wasn't so bored by the abundance she is given? Something about the bear bit bugged me, but I can't identify why. Nonetheless, a sweet tale.
Reminded me of a Christmas story involving a clockmaker and an apple my mom read to me as a child. It's in a Christmas anthology. I'll look up the pertinent details More...
Sep 09, 2010
Tasha
rated it:
The creators of Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! return with a delightful fairy tale. Jack is invited to the princess’ tenth birthday but has nothing to fine enough for a present. But then Jack has a great idea, he will bake her a birthday cake. He didn’t have enough money to buy ingredients, so he had to trade for them, work for them, or make them on his own. Finally it was finished. Two cake layers, frosting, ten candles, walnuts and a big strawberry. Jack sets off to the party, but his way is no
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Sep 17, 2010
your neighborhood librarian
rated it: 
... and tries to give it to the spoiled, pissy princess. Love Jack, wish he had someone more worthy to bend over backward and risk life and limb and sacrifice all his stuff for. I believe Candace Fleming didn't really mean to put up this snitty girl - I admire Ms. Fleming's work in a big way. If Clever Jack's story were paired with one in which Miss Princess exhibits courage and/or resourcefulness in order to help Jack, I could see this working really well.
Jan 17, 2011
Janessa
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This book is a pure delight. Jack receives a birthday invitation to the princess' birthday party. He crafts a heartfelt and creative gift to bring with him to the party, but in spite of his best efforts loses his gift, bit by bit, along the way. His adventures are entertaining, his plucky attitude contagious. In the end, Fleming proves a story can be the best gift, not just through Jack's triumphs, but also through her own wonderful storytelling.
Apr 04, 2011
Katherine
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"Clever Jack Takes the Cake" is a cute story about a boy who decides to bake a cake for the princess' birthday. This story relays the theme that sometimes the best gifts aren't the most expensive. This story could be used to show how authors write certain things intentionally, for example BIG BOLD TEXT is written so that the author knows that it is suppose to be read louder and with more emphasis.
Nov 19, 2010
H
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It is hard to come up with a folktale based story that still feels original, but Fleming has created a truly charming tale of a poor little boy who tries to bring a gift to the princess. Karas provides wonderful illustrations and the story has just enough edge to really feel like a folktale, while still giving kids the happy ending they crave. Will make a terrific read aloud for K-3, I think!
Jul 29, 2011
Clever Jack hears that the princess is having a party to celebrate her birthday. Jack thinks of a way to make a cake to the princess as a present since he has no gold for her. As he travels to the palace, many events happens to his cake. When he arrives at the palace, he is told at first that he can't see the princess but he explains he has a gift but no one can see what it is.
Apr 05, 2011
Lynn
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(K+) I think this will be a great read aloud for grades 2-3, especially, but will be enjoyed by all ages. I like that Jack shows determination, perseverance and imagination as he cleverly resolves each problem on his "quest" to attend the princess' birthday party and that the princess shows grace and a sense of humor.
I am adding this book to my list of favorites and "Traits."
I am adding this book to my list of favorites and "Traits."
Jan 13, 2011
Melissa
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An enjoyable variant on the folklore quest tale. I liked so many of the little touches: such as Jack making a cake (as opposed to whittling a doodad, or whatever), and doing it quite well; the candle that appears instead of a lightbulb over his head when he has an idea; his glass-half-full attitude; the flower girl running around the throne room having the time of her life; some of the phrases; the way the little forest animals are all lined up at the edge of the page watching Jack go by himself
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Apr 08, 2011
Shuntia
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A clever boy makes a cake for the princess' birthday party. As he walks to the party parts of his cake are gone. By the time he gets to the party he has nothing to give the princess so he tells her the story of what happened instead and she is delighted by the story. This is a great story that shows a boy's determination and would be a great book to read to students.
Mar 15, 2011
Cathy
rated it:
Poor Jack has no money to buy a present for the princess's 10th birthday and makes her a cake instead. En route to the party, he encounters some mishaps but presents the princess with the best gift of all (an adventure story!)
Wonderfully written, great to read aloud, with voices, hushed whispers, caws...readers will come to their own conclusions about the happy ending.
Wonderfully written, great to read aloud, with voices, hushed whispers, caws...readers will come to their own conclusions about the happy ending.
Nov 24, 2010
Gwen the Librarian
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This is just the right fairy-tale story for the youngest readers. When Jack is invited to the princess's birthday party, he has nothing to give. So, step-by-step, he finds the resources to make her a fabulous birthday cake. Then, on his way to the castle, step-by-step, all of the cake is taken away and he has nothing left to give the princess. Or does he? Delightful!
Feb 11, 2011
Bridget R.
rated it:
Invited to the princess's birthday party, Jack's lack of funds don't deter him. He barters and trades until he has all the ingredients for a wonderful cake. His journey to the castle is fraught with peril--to the cake that is. Piece by piece, Jack loses it until there's nothing left but the story of his journey. Luckily for him, the princess appreciates unique gifts like stories.
What I thought: I really liked this book. I think it's one of my favorites of 2010. Jack is a great charac More...
What I thought: I really liked this book. I think it's one of my favorites of 2010. Jack is a great charac More...
Jan 14, 2011
Kelly
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Jack was clever and took the cake in more ways than one - literally and figuratively. I like the medieval feeling of the book - not just the princess and the pauper but also the drawings and the font on the letter and the castle. My favorite part was the page with the princess exclaiming her favorite gift was the story - that part and the drawing.
Mar 21, 2011
Amy
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This is a fairy tale style story about a boy named Jack who is invited to the princesses 10th birthday but is doesn’t have a gift to bring. He decides to trade his things for the ingredients to make a cake. The cake is beautiful and Jack is proud, but along the way a series of mishaps take their toll. Jack remains positive and pushes forward. When he finally reaches the castle and the princess he learns a very valuable lesson.
I really enjoyed this book. It teaches a wonderful lesson and I More...
I really enjoyed this book. It teaches a wonderful lesson and I More...
