Clever Jack Takes the Cake [Hardcover]

Candace Fleming (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 24, 2010 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 600L (What's this?)

Take a bite out of this deliciously funny original fairy tale, which received four starred reviews and was named a Best Book of the Year by Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and the Bank Street College of Education.

What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bake the princess a cake.

Now he just has to get it to the castle in one piece. What could possibly go wrong?

Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas, creators of the bestselling picture book Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, have teamed up again to bring us a modern fairy tale starring a determined boy and a story-loving princess with a good sense of humor. While girls will fall for a story featuring a princess’s birthday party, Jack’s adventures with trolls, bears, and gypsies make this the perfect read for young boys as well—and ideal for storytime.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3 A poor boy named Jack who helps a princess is a familiar trope in folklore. In this original tale, Jack accidentally receives an invitation to the princess's birthday party. He resourcefully gathers ingredients and bakes a wonderful cake. On his way to the castle, the cake is slowly demolished by crows, a troll, a spooky forest, a dancing bear, and even a palace guard, until the only present Jack has to offer the princess is the story of the cake's demise. Of course, this gift pleases her much more than the boring rubies and tiaras brought by richer guests, and she declares that her new friend will have the honor of cutting the royal cake. This entertaining adventure is packed with action. Karas's scratchy gouache and pencil cartoon illustrations are as detail-rich as the text itself. From the sly bear to the bored princess, the expressions are priceless. The endpapers provide context not included in the text: a party invitation blowing from the messenger's bag and under Jack's door at the beginning, and Jack regaling a fascinated princess with more tales at the end. A solid choice for most collections, and a good storytime choice, despite the smallish illustrations. Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* Fleming and Karas, whose previous collaborations include Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! (2002), offer an original fairy tale that has the makings of a story-hour classic. Jack is thrilled when he receives an invitation to the princess’ birthday party, but he’s too poor to buy a present. Determined to make something instead, Jack trades his ax and quilt for flour and sugar, scrounges up more ingredients, and assembles a beautiful cake, topped with the “reddest, juiciest” strawberry in the land. Calamity strikes en route to the castle, though, and after run-ins with four-and-twenty blackbirds, a troll, a dark forest, and a dancing bear, Jack arrives at the party with only the magnificent strawberry, which a guard confiscates: the princess is allergic. After anxiously watching the bored birthday girl receive her presents (“Another tiara? How dull.”), Jack confesses that he has only an account of his day to offer. Luckily, the princess is delighted: “A story! And an adventure story at that! What a fine gift!” Fleming writes with rhythmic repetition and delicious word choices that lend themselves perfectly to dramatic narration, while Karas’ gouache-and-pencil art expertly amplifies each scene’s action and mood, and creates endearing characters in Jack and his new royal friend. Like Simms Taback’s Caldecott Medal winner Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (1999), this standout picture book emphasizes resourcefulness and the power and pleasure of a well-told tale. Preschool-Grade 2. --Gillian Engberg

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Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (August 24, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375849793
• ISBN-13: 978-0375849794
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This delightful fairy tale of a poor boy Jack who had nothing to give the princess but a story is utterly charming! September 14, 2010

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Jack was sitting on a stump next to his table when someone slipped an invitation under his door. He was amazed when he saw it was from His Majesty the King. It was an invitation to the Princess's tenth birthday party and he was really excited until his mother said, "What a shame you can't go." Well, he didn't see why not, but she explained that they didn't have anything nice enough to give her nor money to buy anything. Jack, who was not to be undone by things like that, brainstormed and decided he was going to make her a marvelously grand cake.

He did a little bit of trading, coaxed the hen and cow into giving their donations, collected a few walnuts, sought out the best strawberry in the patch, and "he dipped candles." When he had all his ingredients gathered up, "he set to work, churning, chopping, blending, and baking." No doubt, it was the most beautiful cake in the land, but soon he ran into some problems as he tried to make his way to the castle.

Four-and-twenty ornery blackbirds swooped down and stole the walnuts from the top of the cake. Oh, no. Not to be discouraged, Jack kept on the path to the castle, proudly holding the remains of the cake. He met up with an ogre who demanded his share of the cake, he had to use the candles to make his way through the dark forest, and then there was that foolish bear. "Shuffle-shuffle-kick . . . G-U-U-U-L-P!" The only thing he had to offer the lovely princess was a strawberry because Samson, the bear, hated fruit and then a guard gulped that down. What was the princess going to think about someone who had nothing at all to offer her? Would they even let poor Jack into the party or would he be the laughingstock of the town?

This delightful fairy tale of a poor boy Jack who had nothing to give the princess but a story is utterly charming. I loved the way this tale evolved as Jack slaved to make the perfect cake, but ended up with virtually nothing to offer the spoiled princess. From the four-and-twenty blackbirds, who liked cake better than pie, to the guard who loved strawberries, simply proved that if poor Jack didn't have bad luck he wouldn't have any luck at all. The surprise little twist at the end was scrumptiously heartwarming and made me smile. If you like fairy tales with happy endings, this is one that really takes the cake!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique tale of an ingenious young boy and his adventures October 27, 2010

By Z Hayes HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

"Clever Jack Takes the Cake" is an engaging story that captivated my five-and-a-half year old daughter. Jack is a poor boy who lives with his mother in a run down hut. When he receives an invitation to attend the princess's 10th birthday celebration, Jack is eager to go but wonders, "What will he bring for a gift?" Luckily Jack uses his imagination and decides to bake the princess a cake (as to how he affords the ingredients, you'll just have to read the story! Let's just say Jack is indeed a clever little boy).

Well, Jack's cake turns out beautifully, and he leaves for the princess's castle, but encounters several things on his way - black birds, a troll, sinister woods, and a dancing bear - in the process the cake begins 'disappearing'! Will clever Jack have anything left to give the princess by the time he reaches the castle? This is a delightful little tale that focuses on imagination being put to good use, creativity, and friendship. It is quite an original tale with some familiar characters from other fairy tales, and has lovely illustrations that will engage young children's interest.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book! April 25, 2013

By Kurt A. Johnson

Format:Hardcover

When the invitations go out across the kingdom for the princess's tenth birthday party, Jacks mother tells him that he cannot go because he does not have money to purchase a grand gift. Well, what Jack does have is his cleverness. And so, he rounds up everything he needs to make a delicious cake. But, on his way to the party he runs into numerous adventures that eventually cost him the cake. Now what can he give the young princess? It turns out he might just have the gift that she wants the most!

This is a very charming story, with a great storyline that reminds me of all those great old time fairytales. The illustration work is very nice - somewhat primitive to keep the story might and childlike. Both my six-year-old and I enjoyed this book, and we have read it repeatedly. It's a very good book!