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Bake Sale
Cupcake's life is pretty good. He's got his bakery, and his band, and his best friend, Eggplant. His days are full of cooking, socializing, and playing music. But lately, Cupcake has been struggling in the kitchen. He's sure the solution to all his problems is out there somewhere. But maybe that solution is hiding closer to home.
Sara Varon returns with an ageless tale as dreamy and evocative as her break-out hit graphic novel Robot Dreams . At once deeply metaphorical and hilariously literal, Bake Sale is a story for anyone who's ever looked for an easy answer to life's intractable difficulties. It's also a Varon includes seven delicious recipes, from classic cupcakes to sugared flower petals to marzipan.
Sara Varon returns with an ageless tale as dreamy and evocative as her break-out hit graphic novel Robot Dreams . At once deeply metaphorical and hilariously literal, Bake Sale is a story for anyone who's ever looked for an easy answer to life's intractable difficulties. It's also a Varon includes seven delicious recipes, from classic cupcakes to sugared flower petals to marzipan.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2011
37 people are currently reading
2280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
September 3, 2019
Yes I read a children’s book. Yes I read this delightful book to a friends child.
And I enjoyed it too!
After finishing this story I asked a few questions about what she took from this story, as a child’s POV. Because me, as an adult, I might take this away differently. And yes, this was the case.
I was told that this story is all about Cupcake, best friend Eggplant and Turkish Delight. And how we have to work to get money for dreams to come true. How our friends are nice. Why Cupcake was so sad because he had so many things he had to do there was no time to play!
I had other thoughts about this.
Cupcake was selling cup cakes that got eaten!
Carrot serving dinner to Cupcake.
No one has proper names in this story, they are identified by what they are.
Sugar, is simply sugar.
Carrot is simply carrot.
Cupcake is cup cake until they bake cupcakes.
So if you are reading this as an adult you will simply think it’s crazy. But the pictures are wonderful.
And there are some recipes.
You may even think it’s depressing.
But the little girl of 10 I was reading to and she to me (we took it in turns to read pages alternating them) had very different thoughts from mine.
This was a hit from my friends child.
And I enjoyed it too!
After finishing this story I asked a few questions about what she took from this story, as a child’s POV. Because me, as an adult, I might take this away differently. And yes, this was the case.
I was told that this story is all about Cupcake, best friend Eggplant and Turkish Delight. And how we have to work to get money for dreams to come true. How our friends are nice. Why Cupcake was so sad because he had so many things he had to do there was no time to play!
I had other thoughts about this.
Cupcake was selling cup cakes that got eaten!
Carrot serving dinner to Cupcake.
No one has proper names in this story, they are identified by what they are.
Sugar, is simply sugar.
Carrot is simply carrot.
Cupcake is cup cake until they bake cupcakes.
So if you are reading this as an adult you will simply think it’s crazy. But the pictures are wonderful.
And there are some recipes.
You may even think it’s depressing.
But the little girl of 10 I was reading to and she to me (we took it in turns to read pages alternating them) had very different thoughts from mine.
This was a hit from my friends child.
April 8, 2022
This book is aimed at and marketed to children. However, it is surprisingly adult.
What do you mean, Carmen? It has swearing? Sex? Violence?
LOL No, of course not. I mean it's not cutesy and it has a very adult message. This message being: sometimes life sucks. Often for no reason. Sometimes you don't always get what you want. All you can do is just keep waking up and getting through each day.
I realize I'm making this sound depressing. It's not - merely an adult view of the world, rather than a child's. You know. Children's books often stress that things are fair, bad guys get punished, good guys get rewarded, and the hero gets a happy ending.
This has none of that sugar. Instead, the cupcake MC finds he sometimes is a little down. He has work hard in order to earn money. If he doesn't earn enough money, he can't do the things he wants to do. This is a very adult lesson and one that is conspicuously absent from children's literature.
I found the whole thing to be refreshing, but if you're looking for a book full of joy for your little one - this isn't it.
P.S. Although this didn't seem to occur to the children who I read this book with AT ALL, it was frankly rather disturbing to me that the giant talking foods who are the main characters bake and consume other "tinier" food products. For instance, the giant cupcake MC is a baker and there is a scene where he is cracks and beats a bowl full of eggs to make cupcakes or something. But he is also close friends with a giant brown egg. Do you see my problem here? This is totally ignored and never addressed - it's more than likely your kids won't even pick up on it. But as an adult reading this I was like o.O And he sells cupcakes that other characters eat - seemingly not realizing or caring that he himself IS a giant cupcake...
P.P.S. There are recipes in the book if you want to make some yummy treats.
What do you mean, Carmen? It has swearing? Sex? Violence?
LOL No, of course not. I mean it's not cutesy and it has a very adult message. This message being: sometimes life sucks. Often for no reason. Sometimes you don't always get what you want. All you can do is just keep waking up and getting through each day.
I realize I'm making this sound depressing. It's not - merely an adult view of the world, rather than a child's. You know. Children's books often stress that things are fair, bad guys get punished, good guys get rewarded, and the hero gets a happy ending.
This has none of that sugar. Instead, the cupcake MC finds he sometimes is a little down. He has work hard in order to earn money. If he doesn't earn enough money, he can't do the things he wants to do. This is a very adult lesson and one that is conspicuously absent from children's literature.
I found the whole thing to be refreshing, but if you're looking for a book full of joy for your little one - this isn't it.
P.S. Although this didn't seem to occur to the children who I read this book with AT ALL, it was frankly rather disturbing to me that the giant talking foods who are the main characters bake and consume other "tinier" food products. For instance, the giant cupcake MC is a baker and there is a scene where he is cracks and beats a bowl full of eggs to make cupcakes or something. But he is also close friends with a giant brown egg. Do you see my problem here? This is totally ignored and never addressed - it's more than likely your kids won't even pick up on it. But as an adult reading this I was like o.O And he sells cupcakes that other characters eat - seemingly not realizing or caring that he himself IS a giant cupcake...
P.P.S. There are recipes in the book if you want to make some yummy treats.
January 2, 2019
I think this is a young story for young readers. I could not get into this story as the lead character was a cupcake and an eggplant. I didn’t care for the artwork and the story didn’t have a lot to it. OK, there is the importance of friendship, but I wasn't drawn into that story.
I did leave this out for my niece who loves baking and there are about 5-6 recipes in the back. She did pick it up to read and she wanted to make one of the recipes. She liked the part about it being about a baker and she said this was worth 3 stars - so there you go.
I did leave this out for my niece who loves baking and there are about 5-6 recipes in the back. She did pick it up to read and she wanted to make one of the recipes. She liked the part about it being about a baker and she said this was worth 3 stars - so there you go.
September 27, 2011
Is it just me, or is there something strange and cannibalistic about a cupcake selling zucchini bread to sentient vegetables? Or a package of sugar buying and eating brownies? And we're not even going to discuss the eggplant musician who eats reuben sandwiches...This graphic novel is fascinating, but strange.
If you completely ignore the surreal characters, this is a very sweet [only partially a pun] story about pursuing your dreams and enjoying yourself along the way. Cupcake is a baker who only wants to create great desserts, and one of her goals is to meet a famous baker. This baker happens to know the family of one of his close friends, so maybe...
The side stories involve music, business practices, recipes and a host of other things, but overall the book is a kind and gentle story that is really enjoyable. On the down side, I may have nightmares triggered by the image of a box of raisins walking two dachsunds outside Madison Square Garden. Or the issue of whether cupcakes can really have a gender...
If you completely ignore the surreal characters, this is a very sweet [only partially a pun] story about pursuing your dreams and enjoying yourself along the way. Cupcake is a baker who only wants to create great desserts, and one of her goals is to meet a famous baker. This baker happens to know the family of one of his close friends, so maybe...
The side stories involve music, business practices, recipes and a host of other things, but overall the book is a kind and gentle story that is really enjoyable. On the down side, I may have nightmares triggered by the image of a box of raisins walking two dachsunds outside Madison Square Garden. Or the issue of whether cupcakes can really have a gender...
July 27, 2011
How can you resist a book that's about a cupcake who runs a bakery? Seriously.
This book is delicious and delightful!
This book is delicious and delightful!
July 22, 2016
If you're a lover of cupcakes, then you will likely agree that this book is so stinking cute. It's so fluffy I'm gonna die! The only sad thing is that I can't really tell you what the point of it was—weak story line.
Cupcake owns a bake shop in Brooklyn. He and his friend Eggplant decide to save up for a trip to Turkey to meet Cupcake's culinary idol. In order to do so, he starts experimenting with his usual recipes and selling these goods at different venues. Included are neat recipes for the customer shop favorites. The illustrations are really cute, too.
About two-thirds of the way in, things take a plot dive; the ending also left much to be desired. That being said, I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a copy. I'd love to flip through it sometime when I need baking inspiration, or just to pass around to friends who are comic enthusiasts.
Cupcake owns a bake shop in Brooklyn. He and his friend Eggplant decide to save up for a trip to Turkey to meet Cupcake's culinary idol. In order to do so, he starts experimenting with his usual recipes and selling these goods at different venues. Included are neat recipes for the customer shop favorites. The illustrations are really cute, too.
About two-thirds of the way in, things take a plot dive; the ending also left much to be desired. That being said, I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy a copy. I'd love to flip through it sometime when I need baking inspiration, or just to pass around to friends who are comic enthusiasts.
October 3, 2011
I may have read this in some kind of melancholy mood, or perhaps it's just that I was promised specifically that this book was not sad, but I found it VERY SAD and sort of emotionally taxing. "But I don't understand! What message am I supposed to take away from this book?" I cried out ten minutes after finishing. "You aren't supposed to take away anything," my seven-year-old niece said calmly. "It's just a book about Cupcake and his friend Eggplant." Which is possibly true. But I thought it had very sad things to say about creativity and small business-owning and adult social circles and the economy.
There are also some good jokes, both written and illustrated ones. I would look into more of Varon's work, except that I have been promised that Robot Dreams IS sad. I can only imagine.
There are also some good jokes, both written and illustrated ones. I would look into more of Varon's work, except that I have been promised that Robot Dreams IS sad. I can only imagine.
August 14, 2019
This novel is very great.
July 16, 2011
You know those moods you have sometimes, when you feel so fragile and vulnerable that your psyche can be bruised by the tiniest suspicion of criticism? When every new day, hour, and minute just seems like another opportunity to fail?
I don't know of any antidote, but you can alleviate the symptoms for a while with a graphic novel like Bake Sale.
Cupcake owns a bakery, where he creates scrumptious, award-winning desserts. When he's not at work, he plays the drums in a band and hangs out with his best friend Eggplant.
But when Eggplant invites Cupcake to come with him to Turkey, where Eggplant's aunt lives, Cupcake's life is turned upside down. You see, Eggplant's aunt knows Turkish Delight, a renowned pastry chef - and Cupcake worships Turkish Delight.
To earn the money for the ticket, Cupcake throws himself into a frenzy of baking, making goodies for all kinds of special events. And in the process, he loses sight just a little of the good things about his life - his band and his best friend. But Cupcake is imminently sensible, if romantic - and has his priorities in order by the end of the book.
Why do I love this book?
Varon's (Robot Dreams) charismatic food characters have skinny arms, big eyes, and ready smiles.
The little details in her drawings are strangely absorbing and intensely soothing
Swamped as I sometimes feel by the pressures and stresses of work and family, Cupcake's life is immensely appealing in its simplicity
The message - do what you enjoy, enjoy what you do, and cherish your friends - is a worthy one, and expressed in the sweetest possible way.
Recommended for ages 10 to 99.
I don't know of any antidote, but you can alleviate the symptoms for a while with a graphic novel like Bake Sale.
Cupcake owns a bakery, where he creates scrumptious, award-winning desserts. When he's not at work, he plays the drums in a band and hangs out with his best friend Eggplant.
But when Eggplant invites Cupcake to come with him to Turkey, where Eggplant's aunt lives, Cupcake's life is turned upside down. You see, Eggplant's aunt knows Turkish Delight, a renowned pastry chef - and Cupcake worships Turkish Delight.
To earn the money for the ticket, Cupcake throws himself into a frenzy of baking, making goodies for all kinds of special events. And in the process, he loses sight just a little of the good things about his life - his band and his best friend. But Cupcake is imminently sensible, if romantic - and has his priorities in order by the end of the book.
Why do I love this book?
Varon's (Robot Dreams) charismatic food characters have skinny arms, big eyes, and ready smiles.
The little details in her drawings are strangely absorbing and intensely soothing
Swamped as I sometimes feel by the pressures and stresses of work and family, Cupcake's life is immensely appealing in its simplicity
The message - do what you enjoy, enjoy what you do, and cherish your friends - is a worthy one, and expressed in the sweetest possible way.
Recommended for ages 10 to 99.
November 15, 2014
ILOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!
March 10, 2017
Sometimes a good friend is the only answer you need to your problems...just take the time to see them standing beside you.
July 6, 2025
this is a book with great themes and deeper meanings about how life sucks sometimes, but we just gotta move on ✨
really enjoyed the storyline and the graphics, as well as the characters who were cute. i could also feel the characters’ feelings vividly, which added alot to the story
really enjoyed the storyline and the graphics, as well as the characters who were cute. i could also feel the characters’ feelings vividly, which added alot to the story
February 20, 2015
this book was so adorably cute i loved the illustrations and the cute details put into them i loved the characters this book has to be the cutest book i ever read but the only thing i did not like was how the end was so unfinished other than that adorable i would reread this 10 times and will reread many times in the years to come
August 26, 2011
I feel like a dork, but... I want to know if Cupcake wins!!
January 3, 2017
This is a really funny and amazing book
February 5, 2017
For a comic book about giant anthropomorphic food, BAKE SALE is surprisingly mature and intelligent.
Read
November 28, 2024I don't think a cupcake can eat a cupcake and a cupcakes friend is a carrot and selling carrot cake
October 14, 2011
I read this book over my lunch break--well, 1/2 my lunch break; it's short--and upon immediately finishing it, I decided I didn't really like it. A book about a cupcake who sells cupcakes for other anthropomorphic food items to eat?! That's weird! A cupcake who plays drums in a band with an avocado and an eggplant, a cupcake whose best friend is an eggplant? I think I had some trouble getting into these foodie characters. This book just seems to lack the pizzazz and heart that "Robot Dreams" has and the plot seemed a bit predictable.
HOWEVER, I spent the latter half of my lunch break thinking some more about this book. Specifically the ending. In this book, Cupcakes really wants to go to Turkey with her best friend Eggplant, who is going to visit his famous chef aunt. The aunt is acquainted with Cupcake's celebrity chef hero, Turkish Delight,and Cupcake is ecstatic at the thought of traveling to meet her. So, Cupcake scrimps and saves all year, she works EXTRA hard selling baked goods at events all around her community in her time after work and she even has to quit her band so that she can work overtime. In the end, **spoiler alert** Eggplant loses his job and can't afford to travel to Turkey so Cupcake gives him his money that he had saved. Now, here's the interesting part: up until now this plot sounds like a typically sweet children's story, yes? Cupcake sacrifices for his friend because friendship is more important than meeting your celebrity idols, awwwwwwwwwwwww, right? At this point in most children's stories, the protagonist would usually be karmacally rewarded in some way for his selfless action. But not so here. Cupcake is depressed and has a really bad few days at his bakery. He loses some customers because he serves them moldy baked goods. He calls the avocado to see if he can rejoin the band, but no, the potato they replaced him with is working out just fine. Cupcake made sacrifices to go to Turkey and it didn't work out and life is kinda sucky after. This book was weirdly and unexpectedly realistic in that way. They message, I thought, was an important one. And it does end on a hopeful note, with Cupcake and Eggplant working together to try to win a baking competition. Life sucks sometimes, but hey, it goes on! And it's always better with a friend.
And I just went on for a really long time about a book featuring a cupcake as the main character.
HOWEVER, I spent the latter half of my lunch break thinking some more about this book. Specifically the ending. In this book, Cupcakes really wants to go to Turkey with her best friend Eggplant, who is going to visit his famous chef aunt. The aunt is acquainted with Cupcake's celebrity chef hero, Turkish Delight,and Cupcake is ecstatic at the thought of traveling to meet her. So, Cupcake scrimps and saves all year, she works EXTRA hard selling baked goods at events all around her community in her time after work and she even has to quit her band so that she can work overtime. In the end, **spoiler alert** Eggplant loses his job and can't afford to travel to Turkey so Cupcake gives him his money that he had saved. Now, here's the interesting part: up until now this plot sounds like a typically sweet children's story, yes? Cupcake sacrifices for his friend because friendship is more important than meeting your celebrity idols, awwwwwwwwwwwww, right? At this point in most children's stories, the protagonist would usually be karmacally rewarded in some way for his selfless action. But not so here. Cupcake is depressed and has a really bad few days at his bakery. He loses some customers because he serves them moldy baked goods. He calls the avocado to see if he can rejoin the band, but no, the potato they replaced him with is working out just fine. Cupcake made sacrifices to go to Turkey and it didn't work out and life is kinda sucky after. This book was weirdly and unexpectedly realistic in that way. They message, I thought, was an important one. And it does end on a hopeful note, with Cupcake and Eggplant working together to try to win a baking competition. Life sucks sometimes, but hey, it goes on! And it's always better with a friend.
And I just went on for a really long time about a book featuring a cupcake as the main character.
August 10, 2011
Cupcake owns a bakery and his life has a certain routine to it. Wake up at 6:30 am, head to the bakery, bake, and then open the shop at 9:00 am, work until 4:00 pm, then spend time with his friend, Eggplant. Eggplant is planning a trip to Turkey to visit his family, who happen to know the very famous chef, Turkish Delight. When Eggplant invites Cupcake to join him on the trip, Cupcake has to work hard to make more money and pay for it. As he tries new things, his delight in baking returns. Perhaps the solution to his struggles is closer to home than he thought!
Varon is the author of the very successful, Robot Dreams. While this graphic novel doesn’t have the power of that book, it is still a great read that children will respond to. The book also includes seven recipes for food that Cupcake makes in the book. All of Varon’s books have a winning quirkiness to them. Here you have Cupcake who creates cupcakes for other people to eat. A bit strange, but that’s what makes Varon’s worlds so intriguing.
Her illustrations are just as clear and charming as always. The characters are expressive, funny and interesting. The text is fanciful and fun, often meandering a bit rather than driving the story forward. It reads and seems as if readers are really looking at Cupcake’s life.
A whimsical graphic novel that is not too sugary at all. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
Varon is the author of the very successful, Robot Dreams. While this graphic novel doesn’t have the power of that book, it is still a great read that children will respond to. The book also includes seven recipes for food that Cupcake makes in the book. All of Varon’s books have a winning quirkiness to them. Here you have Cupcake who creates cupcakes for other people to eat. A bit strange, but that’s what makes Varon’s worlds so intriguing.
Her illustrations are just as clear and charming as always. The characters are expressive, funny and interesting. The text is fanciful and fun, often meandering a bit rather than driving the story forward. It reads and seems as if readers are really looking at Cupcake’s life.
A whimsical graphic novel that is not too sugary at all. Appropriate for ages 8-12.
December 20, 2011
I really enjoy Sara Varon's books and her art style (even if Robot Dreams made me a bit sad!) I love her artwork because she really knows how to put emotion into her characters and it makes the story come to life. Sure, talking food isn't real, but I believe it with Sara Varon's art.
Bake Sale is an adorably funny book about friendship. Cupcake discovers that he didn't need to travel far to find the answers he was searching for. The artwork is adorably cute and the story of friendship is a nice one. The ending comes a bit quickly and didn't wrap the story up in the way I thought it would. It felt a bit rushed and out of place to the rest of the story. I also think it will leave young readers wanting more.
Bake Sale still had moments that made me laugh and I couldn't help but love Cupcake (it's that emotional artwork again!) I think it was the artwork that sold me on this book more than the story. Readers who enjoyed Robot Dreams should give Bake Sale a try.
Side note: Yes, it is a little odd that a cupcake who talks and is alive makes baked goods to sell, so you have to get over that aspect a little bit. But it's still a charming book.
Bake Sale is an adorably funny book about friendship. Cupcake discovers that he didn't need to travel far to find the answers he was searching for. The artwork is adorably cute and the story of friendship is a nice one. The ending comes a bit quickly and didn't wrap the story up in the way I thought it would. It felt a bit rushed and out of place to the rest of the story. I also think it will leave young readers wanting more.
Bake Sale still had moments that made me laugh and I couldn't help but love Cupcake (it's that emotional artwork again!) I think it was the artwork that sold me on this book more than the story. Readers who enjoyed Robot Dreams should give Bake Sale a try.
Side note: Yes, it is a little odd that a cupcake who talks and is alive makes baked goods to sell, so you have to get over that aspect a little bit. But it's still a charming book.
April 21, 2012
This is the story of Cupcake and his best friend eggplant. Cupcakes runs a bakery and plays drums in a band. When Eggplant tells Cupcake he is travelling to Turkey to meet the world famous chef Turkish Delight, Cupcake just has to meet her, too! But he’s not sure how he can raise enough money for his plane ticket. Eggplant encourages him to try other ways to sell his baked goods, and suddenly Cupcake is filled with inspiration – he sells carrot cake at the Farmers Market, peppermint brownies on Valentine’s Day. And he learns that he’s not going to make all his money in one night. He works hard for months, and realizes too that he has to give up his spot in the band, when he has to choose which one he wants more. He eventually makes enough money for his plane ticket, but then suddenly things don’t work out the way he planned. Will he make it to Turkey to meet his chef hero? This is a story of friendship, sacrifice, hard work, and imagination – all told by a cupcake and an eggplant.
September 3, 2012
Varon shows life as sweet, lonely, busy, mundane, tricky, & lovely. Yep, sounds about right. Is it too much like adult life? Perhaps, but I like Varon's take on friendship.
The bit where Cupcake replaces his lost cherry with a blueberry hit me.
Two things, thought:
-Is my mind in the gutter or is it incredible odd for two characters to go to a Turkish bath in a kid's book?
-If you're a cupcake, should you bake and sell cupcakes? Aren't you related?
Includes recipes for each treat mentioned in the text.
The bit where Cupcake replaces his lost cherry with a blueberry hit me.
Two things, thought:
-Is my mind in the gutter or is it incredible odd for two characters to go to a Turkish bath in a kid's book?
-If you're a cupcake, should you bake and sell cupcakes? Aren't you related?
Includes recipes for each treat mentioned in the text.
August 29, 2011
Bake Sale is a delectable delight for all ages. This gentle story of friendship and sacrifice is easy on the eyes and heart, plus has many delicious recipes for friends to try out together. (I know I will be making the raspberry squares!) Varon’s talking food people are just like us, from crabby Avocado to hungry Hard Boiled Egg. YAY for Cupcake and Eggplant, who join the ranks of Bert and Ernie and Beezus and Henry as two of the most memorable best friends of all time!
December 14, 2011
Just about the cutest, sweetest book I have ever read. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes cupcakes and cute illustrations. I enjoyed this far more than Robot Dreams. The cupcake main character in this book is just so lovable.
August 17, 2011
SO freaking cute.
Full review, along with recipe testing, here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/08/r...
Full review, along with recipe testing, here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/08/r...
October 29, 2011
I liked how the author detailed the running of a bakery and how creative people (or cupcakes) can get in a rut.
September 17, 2015
This book is cute! I love the artworks, and it even got recipes at the end of the book.
A light read indeed.
A light read indeed.
January 10, 2018
Cute, but I needed just a pinch of something more at the end of the story.
March 23, 2014
Cupcake and Eggplant are best friends. When Cupcake finds out that Eggplant's family knows the famous pastry chef Turkish Delight, Cupcake is bound and determined to be able to go with Eggplant to visit the family in Turkey. Cupcake quits their band to make extra money. But when Eggplant loses his job, Cupcake decides it's more important for Eggplant to see family, and so Cupcake gives Eggplant a ticket and stays at home. Of course, everyone ends up happy in the end.
Warning: Do Not Attempt to Read When Hungry!!! This is a cute (and mouth-wateringly delicious) story about friendship. You definitely have to put reality on pause when vegetables and pastry goods do things like go to the Turkish Baths and walk out without being turned into steamed mush. But if you can suspend reality (which you really have to do since all the main characters are foods) and just enjoy the main story about two friends learning what's really important, it is fun. Oh, and all the baked goodies included in the story come with recipes in the back for those who find themselves drooling on the pages. One other note, I liked this one better than Robot Dreams. It's a bit more cheery.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence.
Warning: Do Not Attempt to Read When Hungry!!! This is a cute (and mouth-wateringly delicious) story about friendship. You definitely have to put reality on pause when vegetables and pastry goods do things like go to the Turkish Baths and walk out without being turned into steamed mush. But if you can suspend reality (which you really have to do since all the main characters are foods) and just enjoy the main story about two friends learning what's really important, it is fun. Oh, and all the baked goodies included in the story come with recipes in the back for those who find themselves drooling on the pages. One other note, I liked this one better than Robot Dreams. It's a bit more cheery.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence.
January 15, 2015
Not impressed. I just didn’t feel like this book had any real point. The plot was all over the place. There was a weird tangent about Cupcake being in a band, and then not being in a band, and then wanting to be back in the band but having been replaced by a potato… that had no bearing on the main storyline whatsoever. And the main storyline was somewhat engaging, but Varon never quite took each theme/message anywhere. I thought we might get a lesson in “if at first you don’t succeed…” or working to earn money for things you want or an homage to creativity or selflessness, but while each of these themes was briefly hinted at, none of them were actually fleshed out to any degree. And then of course, as goodreads user Nick puts it, “Is it just me, or is there something strange and cannibalistic about a cupcake selling zucchini bread to sentient vegetables? Or a package of sugar buying and eating brownies?” It’s so strange to me that a cupcake works in a bakery and even makes cupcakes for others to devour. I would be interested to try some of the recipes at the end, particularly the peppermint brownies, but that’s not enough of a saving grace for this strange, strange little book.
Rating: 2 stars out of 5.
Rating: 2 stars out of 5.
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