HATTIE BAKED A WEDDING CAKE
by Toby Speed & illustrated by Cathi Hepworth
Speed's (One Leaf Fell, not reviewed) story centers on an unusual wedding cake. Not just a cake that is eaten at a wedding, Hattie's well-beaten confection contains a wedding. As she was diligently mixing, various articles were beaten into the cake by accident. A pair of specs, wind from the wind chimes, sunshine, a kiss. When she's finished mixing, Hattie puts the unwieldy batter into a tuba—it doesn't fit into any pan—and bakes it. When she arrives at the wedding, however, everyone is in an uproar. The judge is squinting; the sky is gray; there isn't even a kiss for the bride. Someone sees the kiss in the cake, so Hattie gives the tuba a blow and out comes the wedding. The day is saved. Clever and sweet. Hepworth's illustrations are delicious confections in themselves. (Fiction/Picture book. 4-8)