The Cats and the Cake

K-Gr 2–Two little cats are playing in a bakery when a beautifully decorated cake falls off of a cart and onto the bakery floor. Immediately, each cat claims ownership of the cake by simultaneously declaring “This is mine.” A fox walks by the shop window and decides to intervene in the dispute. He tells the selfish felines that they need to share, and then proceeds to eat some of the cake. He goes on to explain that the cake is too big, so he must eat piece after piece so it is easier to split between the two cats. The cats beg him to stop. By the time the cake gets down to the last tiny piece, the fox insists that he must eat that, too, or the cats will go back to fighting. Dejected, the pair of cats lie down with glum faces; but hope is restored when the baker emerges from the kitchen with an even bigger and more beautiful cake. This title is part of the “I Like to Read” series and is geared for children in early first grade. Told solely through dialogue with lots of repetition, Hamilton and Weiss (Noodleheads) bring a simple but outrageous tale alive. Artwork by Henry (Snow Is Fun) is done in ink, watercolor, and acrylic paint. Young readers will find it hard to resist Henry’s renditions of colorful cupcakes, pies, and cakes in bright and colorful hues.