THE CAKE THAT MACK ATE

by Rose Robart ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1987

A pleasant tale with a different twist, using the familiar tempo of ""The House That Jack Built."" Beginning with an egg, the brief text enumerates the elements needed to bake a cake for the farmer's birthday. But just as it is about to be enjoyed, Mack (a large, affectionate looking dog) eats it! The final lines come quickly and appear abrupt, but they offer just the fight touch to make the ending a satisfying surprise. The uncluttered art features softly rounded shapes in light hues that generate a cozy feeling. As the story builds, a character or object is added to each illustration, allowing the child to identify each as the rhyme accumulates. Arnold and Anita Lobel's The Rose in My Garden (Greenwillow, 1984), based on the same source, is visually and verbally more sophisticated; but here the repetitive word pattern and the simplicity of the art will have more appeal for very young children.

Pub Date: April 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Joy Street/Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S