A PIECE OF CAKE

by Jill Murphy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 10, 1989

A portly mother elephant, Mrs. Large (of Five Minutes' Peace, 1986) decides that she's fat, though her children disagree: ""You're our cuddly mommy. . .just right."" Nevertheless, she puts the whole family on a stern regimen of exercise and healthy food, to no avail: ""Perhaps elephants are meant to be fat,"" says little Luke. Joy is restored when Mrs. Large herself sneaks down to the kitchen for a midnight snack--only to find that the rest of the family has saved her the last piece of the forbidden cake sent by Granny. There's a niche ready-made for a book that says it's okay to be fat; this one, with its earnest, anxious elephants dutifully squeezed into running togs, makes the point with winsome good humor. A portrait of the family collapsed in an affectionate heap after their unaccustomed exertions is especially appealing.

Pub Date: Nov. 10, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 28

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1989

Categories: CHILDREN'S