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Rude Cakes
2016 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award – New Illustrator Honor
Who knew that cakes were so rude?! In this deliciously entertaining book, a not-so-sweet cake—who never says please or thank you or listens to its parents—gets its just desserts. Mixing hilarious text and pictures, Rowboat Watkins, a former Sendak fellow, has cooked up a laugh-out- loud story that can also be served up as a delectable discussion starter about manners or bullying, as it sweetly reminds us all that even the rudest cake can learn to change its ways.
Who knew that cakes were so rude?! In this deliciously entertaining book, a not-so-sweet cake—who never says please or thank you or listens to its parents—gets its just desserts. Mixing hilarious text and pictures, Rowboat Watkins, a former Sendak fellow, has cooked up a laugh-out- loud story that can also be served up as a delectable discussion starter about manners or bullying, as it sweetly reminds us all that even the rudest cake can learn to change its ways.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
27 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
Rowboat Watkins
8 books40 followersRowboat Watkins is mostly a dad who likes to tell stories and draw. Nobody knows why his wife started calling him Rowboat...but she does. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
July 29, 2017
Read to me by my soulmate while we were walking in an aisle, coincidentally, looking for cakes and pastries.
Rude Cakes is one of the best books I've come across that teaches manners so effectively and effortlessly.
A surprise waits for you in this book that shakes your grounds! Loved the humor.
Rude Cakes is one of the best books I've come across that teaches manners so effectively and effortlessly.
A surprise waits for you in this book that shakes your grounds! Loved the humor.
July 14, 2015
I was prepared for the same ol' song and dance about manners (but with cakes) and then--holy plot twist!--the giant cyclopses show up.
Rowboat Watkins (??) may be one of my new favorites.
Rowboat Watkins (??) may be one of my new favorites.
December 30, 2015
My daughter wasn't interested in this one when I showed her the cover but she listened to me read it to her. When we were done she said that she liked the story but didn't really like the pictures. It's a really fast read and personally I liked the story.
March 28, 2020
The confectionary hero of this delightful debut picture-book from author/illustrator Rowboat Watkins is one rude customer! Refusing to say please or thank you, cutting in line, ignoring his parents when they are speaking to him, our eponymous Rude Cake spends all day treating others poorly. But when a massive Cyclops mistakes our cake for a hat, his subsequent polite behavior, both to his fellow cyclopses and to the cake himself, inspired our misbehaving dessert to change his ways...
I found Rude Cakes absolutely charming! Its matter-of-factly surreal story-line, in which sentient desserts live alongside cyclopses, makes for entertaining reading, especially for those who enjoy silly humor. The narrative models both good and bad manners for young child readers and listeners, and highlights the idea that those guilty of bad manners can always choose to change. The artwork, done in pencil and ink, and then finished digitally, is really cute, and captures the quirky humor of the tale quite well. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about manners, good and bad.
I found Rude Cakes absolutely charming! Its matter-of-factly surreal story-line, in which sentient desserts live alongside cyclopses, makes for entertaining reading, especially for those who enjoy silly humor. The narrative models both good and bad manners for young child readers and listeners, and highlights the idea that those guilty of bad manners can always choose to change. The artwork, done in pencil and ink, and then finished digitally, is really cute, and captures the quirky humor of the tale quite well. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about manners, good and bad.
January 15, 2019
How can you not like a book when the author's name is Rowboat and the title is Rude Cakes? This was super cute and the illustrations are perfect for the story and hilarious (especially the little conversation bubbles). I love the oddness of it, especially the twist that cakes (all delicious and lovely) are unpleasant and nasty & cyclopses (cyclopsees? cyclopes? ahhh...cyclopes) are extremely well-mannered and kind. 4.5 stars.
July 30, 2015
This is my kind of book - just the kind I'd LOVE to share in storytime. Made me laugh out loud, which is always a plus. Rude cakes are SO rude, but polite monsters LOVE....tiny hats. When one of the monsters uses a rude cake for a hat, the cake must learn some manners to help him out of his predicament.
July 24, 2015
I was reading this to Kathryn and not really liking it and I wasn't really sure where it was going, when the cake would learn to be polite and all that, and then, out of literally nowhere, giant cyclopes show up and I was won over! Way to go Rowboat Watkins!
July 31, 2015
Rude cake learns manners from a giant Cyclops. Wonderfully absurd.
September 21, 2017
Rude cake alert!
I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. Hoping that one day I would be able to read it, and today I was finally able to get this book and read it. Yay!
This book is about rude cakes, well, especially one in particular it seems. A little child cake. He/she doesn't seem to be the happiest. Never says thank you. Please? What is that word? Doesn't listen to his/her parents. Steals stuff (because why ask). And much more.
I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I thought ALL the cakes were rude, but instead this is just one little cake that has a pissy attitude. His parents and other cakes and other food related stuff seem to be nice and kind. I know the author writes it as they, but the only cake I see being rude is a tiny little pink cake. Plus given the ending, it must have been only one cake. :(
But I still enjoyed the story, especially with that ending. I didn't expect that to happen, and I had a laugh. That sure ought to learn that cake a little lesson about how to be kind, friendly, and how to treat people.
The art is my favourite part of the whole book. The expressions of the cakes (and other food stuff) are perfection. But I also love the little details that can be found in the illustrations (like the poster in the bedroom). Oh, and now that I read the book, the cover is even better than before I read the book. :)
So yeah, I enjoyed this book, but I had expected more rude cakes.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. Hoping that one day I would be able to read it, and today I was finally able to get this book and read it. Yay!
This book is about rude cakes, well, especially one in particular it seems. A little child cake. He/she doesn't seem to be the happiest. Never says thank you. Please? What is that word? Doesn't listen to his/her parents. Steals stuff (because why ask). And much more.
I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I thought ALL the cakes were rude, but instead this is just one little cake that has a pissy attitude. His parents and other cakes and other food related stuff seem to be nice and kind. I know the author writes it as they, but the only cake I see being rude is a tiny little pink cake. Plus given the ending, it must have been only one cake. :(
But I still enjoyed the story, especially with that ending. I didn't expect that to happen, and I had a laugh. That sure ought to learn that cake a little lesson about how to be kind, friendly, and how to treat people.
The art is my favourite part of the whole book. The expressions of the cakes (and other food stuff) are perfection. But I also love the little details that can be found in the illustrations (like the poster in the bedroom). Oh, and now that I read the book, the cover is even better than before I read the book. :)
So yeah, I enjoyed this book, but I had expected more rude cakes.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 4, 2015
This is a really fun picture book. It has cakes and cyclopses – what’s not to like? I like how it cleverly teaches young kids to be nice and use their manners. The pictures are cute and funny. They also help get the point across.
This is one of the most clever picture books on manners that I’ve seen! It uses baked goods and giant cyclopses to explain how you can be well mannered – how do people think of these things?!?
*NOTE* The publisher sent me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is one of the most clever picture books on manners that I’ve seen! It uses baked goods and giant cyclopses to explain how you can be well mannered – how do people think of these things?!?
*NOTE* The publisher sent me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 31, 2015
Great picture book for elementary kids about manners. Would probably work k-4...maybe 5. Good to share at beginning of the year when establishing up classroom environment /rules. Respect of others and manners.
August 7, 2015
This is the funniest book about manners, EVER. It shows the inappropriate behavior and then the appropriate behavior in the funniest possible way. I laughed out loud at some of the pages (which is not rude, but I wished I could have read it TO someone at the bookstore).
August 28, 2015
I used this in conjunction with our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) program. We discussed our "How to be a STAR in the Library" rules and compared how the rude cakes and polite cyclopses would fare in our library.
June 17, 2015
Unique and laugh out loud funny. I loved it!
March 26, 2015
This is basically a manners book that is just absurd enough to be totally effective and not preachy. Also, love those illustrations, matte look, and pastels. An original palette for a picture book!
May 2, 2015
Gold! You really wouldn't want to be a rude cake! :P
April 21, 2023
Mom give this a 4, she found it very funny.
“This book is terrible” ~ 6 year old
“This book is terrible” ~ 6 year old
September 12, 2021
The plot twist made me laugh out loud. There are useful lessons about manners and kindness and whatever, but it's just fun to read about transgressive cakes.
September 3, 2015
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
Who knew that cakes could be so rude? In this strangely entertaining book, there is a not-so-sweet cake who never says please and thank you, never listens to its parents, and is just downright rude. Don't worry though, this rude cake gets its just desserts when it is snatched from its bedroom and forced to become a hat for a one-eyed monster. Fortunately for the cake, these Cyclops are not rude.
When I first read this book, I thought it was rather strange and a bit heavy-handed with the whole politeness message. That was until my nephew came over and made me read it to him again and again and again. I am always fascinated by the things that entertain children and so I finally asked him why he liked this book so much. "Because Aunt Venus," he said, leaning in and whispering conspiratorially. "The cake is just so rude." That's it folks. It wasn't the pencil and ink drawings, even though they were quite cute. It wasn't the message. It wasn't even the fact that there where monsters or that he liked cake. The simple fact is that who would ever expect a cake to be rude? And isn't it funny that one is?
I may not have originally paid this book any mind when I first read it, but once again it was another lesson in seeing these books from the perspective of the children they are written for.
Who knew that cakes could be so rude? In this strangely entertaining book, there is a not-so-sweet cake who never says please and thank you, never listens to its parents, and is just downright rude. Don't worry though, this rude cake gets its just desserts when it is snatched from its bedroom and forced to become a hat for a one-eyed monster. Fortunately for the cake, these Cyclops are not rude.
When I first read this book, I thought it was rather strange and a bit heavy-handed with the whole politeness message. That was until my nephew came over and made me read it to him again and again and again. I am always fascinated by the things that entertain children and so I finally asked him why he liked this book so much. "Because Aunt Venus," he said, leaning in and whispering conspiratorially. "The cake is just so rude." That's it folks. It wasn't the pencil and ink drawings, even though they were quite cute. It wasn't the message. It wasn't even the fact that there where monsters or that he liked cake. The simple fact is that who would ever expect a cake to be rude? And isn't it funny that one is?
I may not have originally paid this book any mind when I first read it, but once again it was another lesson in seeing these books from the perspective of the children they are written for.
Read
April 30, 2015RUDE CAKES never say 'sorry' or 'please' and they cut in line! Which of course makes cupcakes, crumbs, and parents sad and unhappy.
**DON'T READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS**
This book from Rowboat Watkins is essentially a Manners Book that uses a crazy, out-there theme to deliver it's message in a kid-friendly, non-preachy manner.
The book begins with examples of naughty Rude Cake behavior and turns the corner when a giant cyclops shows up and begins to use the principle Rude Cake as a hat. To get back home Rude Cake finds that he/she needs to be polite. And since all of the Cyclopes are friendly and polite, Rude Cake goes home.
There are lots of opportunities to use this book to talk about manners with little ones. Whether the artwork and the use of Cyclopes is going to work for your children you'll have to decide. Generally speaking I liked the artistic style, but I do wish that the cupcakes had appeared more brightly colored.
But give this one a try. If other books about Manners haven't worked for you, this unusually themed book might.
~review copy
**DON'T READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS**
This book from Rowboat Watkins is essentially a Manners Book that uses a crazy, out-there theme to deliver it's message in a kid-friendly, non-preachy manner.
The book begins with examples of naughty Rude Cake behavior and turns the corner when a giant cyclops shows up and begins to use the principle Rude Cake as a hat. To get back home Rude Cake finds that he/she needs to be polite. And since all of the Cyclopes are friendly and polite, Rude Cake goes home.
There are lots of opportunities to use this book to talk about manners with little ones. Whether the artwork and the use of Cyclopes is going to work for your children you'll have to decide. Generally speaking I liked the artistic style, but I do wish that the cupcakes had appeared more brightly colored.
But give this one a try. If other books about Manners haven't worked for you, this unusually themed book might.
~review copy
August 6, 2015
I am now dumber for reading this book.
If I could give it a .5 star I would,
It's only saving grace is the manners, let's learn please, thank you etc.
Well, and who doesn't like a good nickname as an author first name. ROWBOAT! Maybe he got the name because he doesn't move anywhere fast and treads a lot of water!
Other than that..It did nothing for me. Don't like the cakes element (that is just way too odd for me) and cyclopes...just a weird twist. Sounds like a 4 year old was telling the story in childlike rambles. However that might be delightful for some people- that it is so dippy and ridiculous and child like that brings them a smile... This must be a love it or hate it type of book! I am going to just leave it!
If I could give it a .5 star I would,
It's only saving grace is the manners, let's learn please, thank you etc.
Well, and who doesn't like a good nickname as an author first name. ROWBOAT! Maybe he got the name because he doesn't move anywhere fast and treads a lot of water!
Other than that..It did nothing for me. Don't like the cakes element (that is just way too odd for me) and cyclopes...just a weird twist. Sounds like a 4 year old was telling the story in childlike rambles. However that might be delightful for some people- that it is so dippy and ridiculous and child like that brings them a smile... This must be a love it or hate it type of book! I am going to just leave it!
July 31, 2015
A book that teaches about manners, like the How Do Dinosaurs series, but less didactic and with a funny twist. Basically, there is a "rude cake" who pushes other cakes around and doesn't listen to his parents. One night he is plucked from his room by a cyclops who uses the cake for a hat. Cyclops have impeccable manners, so the rude cake learns his manners, and is also graciously returned to his room when he asks.
There are some cute details in the pictures, and I like that the little pink cake is male and that the cyclops look so cuddly.
There are some cute details in the pictures, and I like that the little pink cake is male and that the cyclops look so cuddly.
January 21, 2016
Proof of the pudding ultimately resides with the engagement level of children and in my classroom of 7-8 year olds, there are not many books where every last detail MUST be fully explored including the barcode! With mistaken identity, clever connections, laugh aloud humour, convincing characters and beautiful illustrations this book has it all. Really funny and delightful manners tale. Our older reading buddy class enjoyed hearing this too.
March 2, 2016
This book is one of those that uses randomness to its advantage. I think that it achieves its purpose of demonstrating rude behaviors in everyday circumstances (taking things, not waiting one's turn, not saying please) and showing how anyone (cyclops included) can learn to be polite. Bits of randomness give the story its funny edge -- I especially gasped out loud, and after with delight, at the turn of events in the middle. You'll see.
November 2, 2015
Cute illustrations and an attention grabbing plot-twist. A fun way to teach manners? I have to admit to being a little disturbed by the use of fear to motivate the cakes into learning manners.
May 23, 2015
Using pencil and ink and an iMac for the illustrations, this book's creator delivers a heavy-handed message about manners and being polite. A pink-frosted layer cake behaves in an exceedingly rude way to its parents and friends. The cake learns its lesson--un, gets its just desserts--when a very polite Cyclops kidnaps it and uses it for a hat. Of course, while the cake dances about on the Cyclops' head in frustration, the monster behaves quite politely. The rude cake finally realizes that saying please can go a long way in helping someone get what he/she wants. Although I don't hate it, I found it quite didactic and rather silly. What I did like about the book was its design with the use of different sizes of fonts and the little side comments from some of the secondary sweets such as the marshmallow holding a balloon. I predict that a lot of young readers will enjoy this one even though I found it just as annoying as I find rude individuals.
April 28, 2020
A rude cake is taught a lesson in manners.
This book is truly bizarre, cute but very strange. An anthropomorphized cake, who is male despite being pink (I was corrected by my preschooler for using the pronoun "she" because "the pink cake is a boy not a girl"), changes his naughty ways after being unintentionally abducted by a giant cyclops with extraordinarily good manners who had mistaken him for a hat.
I still think that the plural of cyclops is “cyclopes" and not "cyclopses."
This book is truly bizarre, cute but very strange. An anthropomorphized cake, who is male despite being pink (I was corrected by my preschooler for using the pronoun "she" because "the pink cake is a boy not a girl"), changes his naughty ways after being unintentionally abducted by a giant cyclops with extraordinarily good manners who had mistaken him for a hat.
I still think that the plural of cyclops is “cyclopes" and not "cyclopses."
September 30, 2015
The absurdity of this book puts me in mind of CECIL AND THE PET GLACIER. As an adult, you can't admit you don't like it for fear of looking like you're missing out on the joke. So even though you're not sure if you like it or not, you decide that you do for fear of looking like you're not sophisticated enough to get it. Or out of fear that you'll look like you don't have a sense of humor.
January 17, 2016
Rude Cakes never say please. They don’t wait their turn. They don’t like to share. And they never listen to their parents especially when it’s time to go to bed. But Cyclopes love Rude Cakes! They like to wear them on their heads. They like to share them with their friends. They especially like to listen to Rude Cakes when they say please.
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August 9, 2015
Ok, loved that the author's name is Rowboat Watkins. This is a great story about the power of manners and how they can get you out of trouble. When I saw the cover of the book, I wasn't sure I would like it. I thought the story was very encouraging and offered a good message about not being rude. Being polite does have its advantages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews