Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Who is making and delivering the wonderful cookies to neighbors on Mavin Road? When Benedict Stanley, an older, cued-white man, finds his neighbors too busy to talk, he and cat Audrey Mae "watch the comings and goings" of the individuals, who have an array of skin tones. A red-haired child, Rory, who takes a shine to Audrey Mae, says they're due for a visit from the tooth fairy. The next day, Benedict leaves a plate of cookies with gap-toothed smiles on Rory's doorstep--and the cookie-making venture continues from there. When a kitten is rescued, "cat cookies with currant eyes" appear, writes Lawson. After a tournament, the cookies are decorated like soccer balls. Then the treats suddenly stop, and the mystery deepens: "Where's the cookie maker?" a neighbor pushing a stroller asks. "Maybe she's on vacation," another speculates. But readers are already in on the secret, rooting for the residents to reciprocate after Bernard Stanley falls ill. Loopy, curlicue mixed-media illustrations by Anelli reveal a neighborhood with a glorious variety of architectural styles, blooming flowers, and leafy trees in this winning celebration of community building and quiet generosity. Ages 3--7. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--When a community grows fractured, a special approach is required to reunite it once again. Benedict Stanley lives on Mavin Road with his cat, Audrey May. Every morning, they watch as their neighbors make their way down the road, distracted and unaware of Benedict's friendly greetings. A little boy named Rory breaks through the divide and tells Benedict of his upcoming visit from the tooth fairy, Benedict dusts off his wife's cookbook and sets about making treats to celebrate the events in his neighborhood. This picture book uses very few words, only a sentence or two on each page, but it presents a profound message. Young readers will easily grasp the accessible language, while older readers will recognize the depth of the nuanced tale. Detailed, collage-style illustrations feature textures and patterns and encourage lengthy examination apart from the narrative. A multicultural collection of faces surrounds Benedict, who is depicted as an older, light-skinned man with graying hair. The world outside of Benedict's abode is drab and dreary, but as he spreads cheer through cookies, he shares the vibrant hues of his home with his neighbors. Color shifts throughout the story as positive energy flows into and out of Benedict's home, and readers will appreciate the dynamic nature of this approach over multiple readings. Speech bubbles connect the text to the visuals, and several pages incorporate the telltale staining found in much-loved cookbooks. VERDICT This multifaceted story of community connection is a thought-provoking addition to libraries for young readers.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Benedict Stanley lives with his cat, Audrey Mae, on Mavin Road. Benedict and Audrey's neighbors are always too distracted to return their morning greetings. One day, however, a child named Rory compliments Audrey and informs them that the tooth fairy will be visiting that night. In celebration, Benedict gets out his wife's old cookbook and bakes a batch of cookies. (Benedict's wife is absent from the story.) In the morning, they deliver the cookies to Rory, whose gap-toothed smile matches the design on the desserts. From then on, Benedict and Audrey make it a point to bake cookies for all the special occasions in the neighborhood: births, soccer games, kitten rescues, etc. They never take credit, though, so the neighbors do not know Benedict's secret identity as Mavin Road's premiere baker. The baking continues until one day Benedict falls ill, and the cookies stop. At last, the residents of Mavin Road figure out Benedict's identity as the road's kind baker--and decide to return his kindness with some of their own. The book's whimsical illustrations, full of wobbly lines, comfortably off-kilter angles, and childlike character stylings, delightfully complement the book's gentle storyline. They depict a bustling, joyously diverse neighborhood; Benedict and Rory both present White. Although the plot is full of heart, the protagonists lack characterization, rendering the text pleasant but not altogether engrossing. (This book was reviewed digitally.) From Australia, a sweet but predictable picture book about kindness and community. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
