Clever Jack Takes The Cake

Clever Jack Takes the Cake. Candace Fleming. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. 2010. August 2010. Random House. 40 pages.

One summer morning long ago, a poor boy named Jack found an invitation slipped beneath his cottage door. It read:

His Majesty the King
cordially invites
all the children of the Realm
to
the Princess's Tenth Birthday
Party
tomorrow afternoon
in the Castle Courtyard.

I really enjoyed Candace Fleming's Clever Jack Takes The Cake. Jack, a poor boy, is embarrassed that he doesn't have a gift worthy enough to give a princess. But. He's not discouraged from attending. And he's not discouraged from trying to do his best. No, he's determined. He decides that he will make her something--a cake. When he leaves home, it is with a fine cake:

two layers of golden-sweet cake covered in buttery frosting and ringed with ten tiny candles. Across the cake's top, walnuts spelled out "Happy Birthday, Princess." And in the very center--in the place of honor--sat the succulent strawberry.

But his journey to the Castle Courtyard isn't without risk or peril. Will Jack and his fine, fine cake make it to the party? What will the princess think of Jack and his gift?

I really enjoyed this one. I liked Jack. I liked the Princess. I liked the storytelling. It is a story. (So expect a good amount of text per page.) But it's a good story. One that would be great to share with others.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers