Review by Booklist Review
Robert and his dad are home enjoying downtime together on their balcony. For Robert, it seems a perfect day for making a cake, which, of course, means a cake party and inviting Dad, his toys, and pup Mopsi. Though the invitations he crafts accidentally blow away, Robert's undeterred, and with supportive Dad the willing batter maker, Robert assembles his creation, requiring multiple batches till it's monumentally huge and creatively adorned with puzzle pieces, figurines, and more--just right! But before their first bite, an unexpected series of doorbell rings reveals an ever-increasing group of adults, kids, animals, and even a friendly-faced blue monster who've all found the wind-scattered invitations. Fortunately, there's always more batter--and everyone happily helps for a festive time and sweet treat together. Inviting, cartoonish illustrations in candy-bright colors extend the humor of the more straightforward, descriptive text. The lively background scenes and characters--including burly, bearded Dad, with arm tattoos and bunny slippers, and ginger mop-top Robert in a purple apron--incorporate whimsical and droll details. First published in Switzerland, this offers a lighthearted, fantastical read with delicious charm.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--During a day off, red-haired, pink-cheeked Robert decides to bake a dessert for a "big cake party." However, after a strong wind blows away most of his invitations, Robert changes plans--a smaller party of three for himself, Mopsi the dog, and his father, who is also white. But the invitations have been found, and the line of guests is snaking out the door. Behl offers a humorous tale about the importance of being flexible when things don't go according to plan. The narrative is organized into small-size lines of text in black font and larger paragraphs set in panels and full spreads. The lively illustrations enhance a message of diversity and inclusion; secondary characters such as the father, who appears to be a single dad with tattooed arms and likes to knit, joins adult and children of varied races and religions. The book has a fantasy feel to it; the party guests include a giant octopus and a rabbi, and the dad mixes cake with his hand, delivering giant bowls of white "batter" that Robert shapes into large, snowlike piles. VERDICT A humorous and vibrant book for collections seeking lighthearted looks at inclusion.--Kathia Ibacache, Univ. of Colorado Boulder
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A spirited boy and his father enjoy a day off in this Swiss import. While Dad--a hulking, hirsute White man sporting whimsical tattoos and a pink T-shirt with a faux ACDC logo--knits, pale-skinned, redheaded Robert pages through a cookbook. Suddenly, inspiration strikes: Robert will construct a gigantic cake after inviting his toys, Mopsi the dog, and, obviously, his father, to partake. The dynamic duo designs formal invitations, but a sudden gust of wind carries their handiwork off the balcony and down to the street below. Oh, well--on to baking! Safety comes first, and Robert tidies his mess before Dad mixes up batch after batch of "batter" (which behaves more like dough than cake batter). Robert shapes the cake and, once the confection reaches critical mass (twice Robert's height), festoons the tiered masterpiece with trinkets from around the house. As Mopsi, Dad, and Robert quasi-nosh, the doorbell rings, and the first of a seemingly endless flow of guests arrives. It would seem that Robert's invitations made their way around the city, leading a race-, gender-, age-, and species-inclusive conga line of cake-craving congregants to the door. Given the scale of this assembly, there's only one thing Robert and Dad can do: make more cake! The child-centric narrative, with Robert running the show and Dad along for the ride, encourages emulation, and the simple narrative is laced with visual prompts for conversations about familial structure, gender stereotypes, and diversity. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 52% of actual size.) A vibrant read especially well suited for our indoor era. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
