WHERE IS THE CAKE NOW?

In this wordless adventure, a group of animals brings two covered cakes on a stretcher across a valley, over a stream and up the steep hill for a picnic. Among them are several eccentric characters, such as a poodle fixing her hair, baby bunnies fighting and a shady-looking lizard pushing a frog in a wheelchair. After much effort everyone reaches the top, but when the covers are lifted off, nothing is there! Two mice carrying a big sack are targeted and chased down the hill, but when the frog falls, the cakes tumble out from under his blanket. In looking backward, readers can piece together how the real thieves pulled it off. Although the title might indicate that this is a look-and-find book, it’s really a clever visual mystery—perhaps too clever. The quirky and cartoonish drawings do a nice job communicating the story—and hiding it as well—but young ones might not experience enough of a payoff, and once solved it may not call readers back. (Picture book. 3-6)