Spring Cakes

I Like to Read Comics

by Miranda Harmon

It's time to bake magical spring cakes! But can these adorable kittens find all the ingredients? Find out in this early graphic reader!

It's springtime! Mama Cat is ready to bake her famous spring cakes, enchanted cupcakes heaped with sparkling frosting. Can kittens Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Ginger find all the magical ingredients she needs? The quest begins! This imaginative and adventurous graphic reader comes from rising comics star Miranda Harmon, co-creator of Mayor Good Boy.

I Like to Read Comics are created for kids just learning to read. Sequential art and simple text--and a powerful relationship between the two--are perfect for developing readers.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Animals, Food, Cooking, Picture Books, Magic, Cats

40 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Miranda Harmon is a cartoonist, author and illustrator based in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Goucher College in 2014, and then from the Sequential Artists Workshop in 2015.

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m not even joking.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parents, caregivers, and teachers are always on the outlook for books for brand-new readers. I continue to be impressed by Holiday House's I Can Read and I Can Read Comics titles, of which this book is one. There is minimal text, but it isn't boring. The storyline is engaging, and the illustrations provide abundant visual clues that young readers can use to help them understand what's happening in the story. In this particular book, Mama Cat is inspired by the arrival of spring to bake her delicious spring cakes. She sends her little ones off to obtain the ingredients. Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Ginger visit their neighbors, including a witch who turns out to be far less frightening than the kittens expect, and return with everything she needs. Once the cakes are out of the oven, the siblings get to decorate them the way they want. And then, best of all, it's time to share the sweet treats with their neighbors and have a picnic in the fresh air. Those cakes looked yummy, and I wish the author had included a recipe so that I could try baking them. I'm not sure that I'd be able to find the ingredients, though.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday House Publishing has a new series of Beginning Reader books called I Like to Read Comics. They are beginning readers but in a graphic novel format. This one was cute. Three little kittens - named Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Ginger - are very excited! Today is the first day of spring and their mom is going to make spring cakes! Even better - this year, they get to help! Spring cakes are filled with all the yummy things cakes normally have - flour and eggs and honey - but these cakes also need a few magical ingredients. The kittens will have to be brave to visit all the different places to gather up everything from mom's list. But they will learn a lot along the way and even make a few new friends.
I think a lot of beginning readers would enjoy this title! Just be prepared to whip up a batch of cupcakes together when you are done with the story.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww! This is a super cute book by the artist of Mayor Good Boy, about three kittens looking for cake ingredients to help their mother make spring cakes! Adorable and wholesome fun for readers of all ages! This really makes me want to make some cakes, too (although, they'd be fall cakes by now, oops)!

[Great Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kittens have a tough assignment from Mama Cat--gather all kinds of special and magical ingredients for their traditional homemade spring cakes! Goats and bees and a scary neighbor all help the kittens with colorful and fun pictures that will help early readers enjoy the story of the beauty of family traditions.

Reviewer #23

[Erin]

Adorable. Three little kittens have not lost their mittens, but instead are going in search of ingredients for their very favorite tradition of spring cakes. They encounter friendly farmers, angry bears, and mysterious witches.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year the kittens are old enough to help Mama Cat make her special spring cakes. She has them gather all the ingredients, even from the witch, and help her make the batter. Cats & baking = adorable.

[Dax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was adorable.

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This graphic beginning reader just didn't appeal to me. I think it was the magic that seemed not necessary.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute story about working together, overcoming fears, and being kind!

[DMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring Cakes is one of my kids' favorite books and making spring cakes has become a yearly tradition. We even dye eggs blue and pick roses to add to a basic cupcake recipe.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very simple story, but the art is cute.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely magical. I want to see more of these books! We love this and Market Day. ♥️

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Bekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. I listed it on my recommended middle-grade graphic novel list even though it is intended for younger readers. However, there are so many artistic and magical details in Miranda Harmon's illustrations and sparse storytelling that I think lovers of juvenile graphic novels would enjoy this book as well!

[Lanacelot · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 3 year old very much enjoyed this book.