Tag Archives: Baking

Elem. – Desserts from Around the World

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Hansen, Grace. Desserts from Around the World. DiscoverRoo/Abdo, 2025. $23.95 each or $143.70 for a Set of 6. 32 p. Grades 2-5. 

Cakes from around the World. 9781098247096.
Cookies from around the World. 978-1-098-24710-2.
Custards from around the World. 978-1-098-24711-9.
Deep-Fried Desserts from around the World. 978-1-098-24712-6.
Frozen Desserts from around the World. 978-1-098-24713-3.
Pastries from around the World. 978-1-098-24714-0.

This reviewer read Cookies From Around the World. The first chapter is an overall history of the dessert, followed by 3 other chapters covering cookies from Europe; the Americas; and Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Colorful photographs and ingredient descriptions are sure to inspire one’s appetite. A list of more cookies from around the world along with a world map can be found towards the back. There also are “making connections” questions and a glossary. Online resources are available by scanning a barcode to see different videos, puzzles, and games, or by visiting the provided URL on the copyright and last pages.

THOUGHTS: This will surely be a popular collection for students interested in history and baking. The books and activities would also be fun to include in lessons that celebrate different foods and cultures.

641.86 Desserts

MG – The Trouble with Heroes

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Messner, Kate. The Trouble with Heroes. Bloomsbury, 2025. 978-1-547-61639-8. 288 p.$17.99. Grades 6-8.

In The Trouble with Heroes, prolific author Kate Messner peels off the different layers of Finn Connelly’s story. Told in verse form, the reader first meets the rising seventh grader as he receives his failing reports in physical education and English. Because his teachers know that Finn has been going through some tough times emotionally, they are giving him an extension over the summer months. To add to his troubles, he vandalized the local cemetery. One of the tombstones he damaged belonged to a local woman known for her rock climbing skills. In lieu of legal action, the woman’s daughter challenges Finn to climb each of the mountains in the 46 Adirondack High Peaks of their small upstate New York town with the help of the mountain climbing club. Since the pandemic, Finn and his mother moved in with his grandmother who runs the family candy shop. Finn goes from resisting the climbs to conversing with his companion climbers. We gradually learn that Finn is grieving his father’s death. Finn’s father was a firefighter who saved a survivor of 9/11. During the lockdown, his father stayed behind in Manhattan to care for the sick as a paramedic. Finn’s childhood has been punctuated by his father’s bouts with alcoholism and depression. Finn has lots on his mind and lots of issues to work out. To add to these problems, with thinning COVID crowds, his grandmother’s shop is failing. Finn has a flair for baking cookies (recipes included in the book) and finds a way to save the business. There is a lot of sadness to deal with in this novel but a lot of hope. Finn learns he can lean on others, express himself in his writing, and be proud of his dad who loved him.

THOUGHTS: This book will be published in April. Kate Messner is usually a safe bet for middle grade readers. This entry is a slow starter, but gradually the events in Finn’s life reveal themselves. There is a lot going on here: failed classes, moving to a small town, trouble with the law, baking, failing business, 9/11, COVID, death, alcoholism, and hiking. It can get confusing; it can also get interesting and very touching.

Realistic Fiction  

“Local Cemetery Vandalized” is the title of an article in the Adirondack Daily News that opens the book The Trouble with Heroes. If Finn hadn’t been wearing his dad’s NYFD hat, he wouldn’t have been caught; he doesn’t always make the best decisions. Finn just finished seventh grade, but he didn’t pass. He needs to finish his ELA and PE assignments over the summer, and his ELA teacher wants him to write poems about heroes. His dad was a hero who saved people on September 11, but Finn isn’t ready to write about him. Because Finn vandalized the headstone of local mountain climber Edna Grace Thomas, he also needs to climb the 46 Adirondack High Peaks — with her dog. It’s better than paying for the headstone because the chocolate shop his mom and grandma run hasn’t been doing great lately. It’s going to be a difficult summer for Finn: climbing mountains with seasoned climbers; finishing his assignments; and dealing with a random, drooling dog.

THOUGHTS: Many books that claim to be written in verse are just prose presented in a choppy way. The Trouble with Heroes is beautiful poetry. ELA teachers could plan lessons around this book. Finn is a likable character with amusing observations who occasionally makes bad decisions. Students and teachers will love this book. I know I do.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Emily’s Cupcake Magic!

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Simon, Coco. Emily’s Cupcake Magic! (Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch). Illustrator: Manuela Lopez. Simon Spotlight, 2024. 978-1-665-94911-8. 91 p. $17.99. 2-4.

Cupcake alert!  This new “junior fiction” chapter series from the creator of the original Cupcake Diaries series will be a hit with younger readers. Emily, Natalie, Ren, and Alana meet up when their schools merge unexpectedly. Emily shares her time between her mom’s house and her dad’s house. Katie, from the original series, is Emily’s step-sister. She helps Emily adjust to her new school by packing her lunch and giving her a cupcake to share at lunch to help make new friends. When her principal announces a baking contest, Emily and her new friends team up to bake the best cupcake ever, with some help from Katie and the original Cupcake Club.

THOUGHTS: This new series should be a big hit in my library. My students love the newer CD graphic novels. I plan on pulling out and showcasing the good old CD books along with new series for the younger set.

Realistic Fiction
Junior Fiction

YA – Fatima Tate Takes the Cake

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Vanbrakle, Khadijah. Fatima Tate Takes the Cake. Holiday House, 2023. 978-0-823-45485-3.  267 p. $19.99. Grades 8-12.

Black Muslim Fatima Tate has a passion for baking, but is also an obedient daughter to her two loving, hard working parents living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her mother has Fatima’s whole life planned as a nurse and regards her talent for baking as a hobby. Fatima spends her free time volunteering at a soup kitchen where she meets the charming and handsome Raheem Harris. When she accepts a ride home from Raheem one day–a definite no-no–that culminates in a kiss, Fatima starts down a slippery slope of secret dating that quickly escalates to a marriage proposal. Though at first, Fatima is thrilled to be matched with her crush, she starts to have serious misgivings especially when her best friend, Zayneb Baker, confesses her disapproval of the match based on hard evidence she discovered. Fatima’s parents are thrilled with Raheem and dazzled by his generous gifts and wealth because they believe it assures their daughter’s secure future. Fatima is reluctant to share her doubts with her parents, just as she keeps secret her participation in a baking competition that could enable her to attend the Culinary Institute. As her fiance and his family pressure Fatima into an early wedding quickly following her high school graduation, Fatima views the unmasked Raheem who is controlling and manipulative, but she feels trapped because of what he holds over her. The situation comes to a head during the engagement party, when Fatima confronts Raheem and his mother. Her honesty allows her to continue in the baking competition and recognize the support of her parents. Vanbrakle has a smooth way of writing authentic dialogue. While Fatima represents the docile, traditional Muslim, Zayneb, her lesbian friend who is also Muslim, wears no hijab and her relationship with her girlfriend is out in the open. Although Fatima appears modest and shy most of the time, she does have a sarcastic side to her and, ultimately, has the courage to address some very difficult issues. This well-rounded description of Muslim characters, beliefs, and customs is refreshing and genuine, but could have been enhanced by a glossary of terms. The book does, however, have some of Fatima’s favorite dessert recipes.

THOUGHTS: Gorgeous cover. Thankfully, in recent years more books have been published including Muslim characters, but Fatima Tate Takes the Cake makes the reader understand what it must be like to be a Muslim teen. This work provides the mirror and window so desired in reading. Some foul language,  description of kissing, and implied sexual intercourse.

Realistic Fiction

YA – Fake Dates and Mooncakes

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Lee, Sher. Fake Dates and Mooncakes. Underlined, 2023. 978-0-593-56995-5. 272 p. $10.99. Grades 9-12.

Last year Dylan Tang lost his mom to cancer and since has been living with his Aunt Jade and cousins Megan and Tim above the family’s Singaporean Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. A true team effort means every member of the family contributes to Wok Warriors, but the small takeout still has its struggles. Though he wants to follow in his mom’s footsteps and become a veterinarian, Dylan shines in the kitchen, especially making xiao long bao. His mom and Aunt Jade have honored their culture and have taught Dylan and his cousins all about their heritage. When a delivery driver ends up with a flat tire, Dylan jumps on his bike and takes care of the delivery. At his last stop, Dylan meets Adrian, a customer who threatens legal action for including spring onions when he clearly instructed them not to, and Theo, an attractive guy who walks into the room wearing nothing but boxer briefs. Dylan gets out of there as quickly as he can while trying to save the restaurant’s reputation. When Theo shows up at the restaurant to smooth things over, he and Dylan have instant chemistry, but Theo’s wealthy life is worlds away from Dylan’s family’s struggles. Theo may be a distraction from Dylan’s plan to honor his mom’s memory by entering the Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncake-Making Contest. But after spending some time together, Theo convinces Dylan to pose as his boyfriend for a weekend family wedding in the Hamptons. Dylan doesn’t realize the family drama (and extent of a wealthy lifestyle) he’s about to step into. Can two guys who live very different lives but who have such a strong pull towards each other make it work, or will other forces keep them apart?

THOUGHTS: Mouth-watering descriptions of authentic Asian food and background on cultural traditions are plentiful throughout this sweet romance. Hand this title to foodie fans or readers who like family dramas or romances like A Pho Love Story, A Taste for Love, Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love, or The Way You Make Me Feel.

Romance

Elem. – My Hands Tell a Story

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Lyons, Kelly Starling. My Hands Tell a Story. Reycraft Books, 2022. 978-1-478-87061-6. 36 p. $17.95. Grades K-3. 

When Zoe’s grandmother waves her into the kitchen so they can bake bread together, Zoe is mesmerized by the magic and power in her grandmother’s hands. Grandma’s hands knead, push, and pull the dough until it’s just right. Grandma gently guides Zoe’s hands through the motions as well. While they wait for the dough to rise, the pair sit and talk. Readers learn about Grandma’s past and all the things her hands have done: Raised children, planted gardens, typed and filed. Zoe wonders what she might accomplish with her own hands someday, considering possibilities like drawing, building, writing, making music, and baking. When she and Grandma high-five to celebrate the first bites of their freshly-baked treat, Grandma notes that although Zoe’s hands are similar to her own, they will go places Grandma has never been. This inspiring, intergenerational story is rooted in love and celebrates the strong bond between grandmother and granddaughter. Vibrant, oil-painted illustrations beautifully capture heartfelt moments and the closeness these two share. The endpapers include a recipe for the same cinnamon bread Zoe and her grandma bake together in the book. 

THOUGHTS: Many students will make connections to the idea of cooking or baking a favorite food with a grandparent. This will also be a perfect choice for Grandparents’ Day read-alouds. Additionally, this title can be used as a discussion starter about things students hope to accomplish with their own two hands. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

YA – Batter Royale

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Adams, Leisl. Batter Royale. Amulet Books, 2022. 978-1-419-75075-5. 240 p. $24.99. Grades 7-10.

High school senior Rose is a waitress at the Quayga Diner, though she longs to be in the kitchen like her longtime friend Fred, whose mom owns the restaurant. Rose just has been accepted at her dream school, Toronto’s Fieldberry Culinary School, but her recently separated parents aren’t sure if they can swing the tuition. When an influential food critic visits the diner, Rose presents her with a strawberry shortcake (her own creation) and scores an invitation to participate in a televised baking competition called Batter Royale. The prize is a life-changing $500,000 and a book deal. However, the taping is in London and Rose needs a teammate. She convinces a reluctant Fred to join her in hopes that the publicity will help the struggling Quayga, and the pair jet off across the pond. Will their friendship blossom into something more, or will the pitfalls of a reality TV show (including booby traps, sabotage, and a flirty rival who fights dirty) drive a wedge between them? Author/illustrator Leisl Adams’ brightly-hued artwork is fresh and upbeat. Rose is biracial (her mom is white and her dad is black), and Fred is white. Illustrated recipes accompany all of the featured dishes in this delectable confection.

THOUGHTS: Exciting competition scenes, a heartwarming friends-to-romance trope, and adorable characters make this graphic novel a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Graphic Novel          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

YA – A Taste for Love

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Yen, Jennifer. A Taste for Love. Razorbill, 2021. 978-0-593-11752-1. 304 p. $17.99. Grades 9-12.

Liza is a free-spirited, Taiwanese-American teen who likes to rebel against her mother’s wishes. With a “perfect” older sister off following her dreams and a meddling mother always on Liza’s case, she doesn’t have to try too hard to go against her mother’s wishes. And dating unsuitable boys has been number one on Liza’s list. Mrs. Yang, co-owner of the Yin and Yang restaurant and bakery with her chef husband, has a plan to get Liza on the right path. Using Liza’s love of and skill for baking, Mrs. Yang convinces her to serve as a guest judge in the bakery’s annual junior competition (think Great British Baking Show). It doesn’t take long for Liza to recognize that she’s been set up by her mother. Not only is each contestant male, each also is Asian American. What follows is a fun battle between mother and daughter, as Liza also fights her feelings for one contestant specifically. Mothers might know best, but Liza is her own person, and she won’t give up easily.

THOUGHTS: As a fan of The Great British Baking Show, I adored this sweet romance. Filled with delicious descriptions, readers will be rooting for Liza from the beginning. Pairs well with other YA “food titles” such as A Pho Love Story, The Way You Make Me Feel, and so many others (just google it!). Highly recommended for middle and high school libraries looking to add representation to their romance sections.

Romance          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

MG – All You Knead is Love

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Guerrero, Tanya. All You Knead is Love. Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2021. 978-0-374-31423-1 375 p. $16.99. Grades 4-6. 

Twelve-year-old Alba does not want to leave New York City and move to Barcelona to live with a grandmother she barely knows or remembers. But her mother, a native from Spain herself, is not moving with her, nor is her alcoholic, abusive father. Alba is leaving behind a school she does not like, very few friends, and a home full of secrets and trauma. All You Knead is Love by Tanya Guerrero is a heartfelt story about finding one’s chosen family and discovering the passions stirring inside us. After arriving in a new country, Alba is surprised to find that she not only loves Barcelona but feels her most authentic self in this foreign land. She forms a close relationship with her grandmother, finds her first proper group of friends, and even experiences her first crush. Alba befriends a neighborhood baker who opens his kitchen as a haven to her; she begins to not only heal but thrive as his apprentice. Just as Alba discovers that she has a real passion and talent for baking bread, her beloved bakery faces an unexpected closure. Even more heartbreaking, her mother arrives in Barcelona after finally leaving her abusive relationship with Alba’s father. Alba becomes determined to save the bakery- and mend and heal the strained relationship with her mother.

THOUGHTS: All You Knead is Love seamlessly blends the right amount of culture, music, cooking, and the Spanish language into a vibrant setting that charms and delights. This story transported me to the streets of Barcelona and made me laugh and cheer for Alba and her chosen family. Tanya Guerrero writes with such sensitivity, and her authentic tone created a story with characters that will stick with me for a long time. This story was a gem!

Realistic Fiction          Marie Mengel, Reading SD

YA – What I Like About You

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Kanter, Marisa. What I Like About You. Simon & Schuster, 2020. 978-1-534-44577-2. $18.99. 409 p. Grades 7-12.

Halle Levitt and her brother Ollie have just moved in with their grandpa. She will spend her senior year in a new small town and new school while her parents jet off to another country to film their newest documentary. Halle struggles, along with her Gramps, to be in the house without her Grams who passed away just a few years ago. It was her Grams that inspired her love of reading and baking, and when Halle isn’t studying for her SATs or applying for college at NYU, she connects with her online best friend, Nash, and updates her online blog called One True Pastry. Online, Halle is known as Kels, and she’s famous for her YA book reviews and her cupcake book cover creations. When Halle meets Nash in real life and discovers he lives in the same town as her Gramps, she decides not to tell him that she’s also his online best friend, Kels. Halle and Nash grow closer, but Halle needs to find the courage to tell him who she really is and hopes that he’ll like real-life, awkward Halle as much as he likes online, confident Kels.

THOUGHTS: What I Like About You reminds me of a YA version of the movie You’ve Got Mail. Halle’s decision to keep her Kels identity from Nash is frustrating, especially when he feels guilty about liking Halle while also keeping his crush on Kels. This book not only focuses on romantic relationships, but on family relationships as well. I love how close Halle is to her brother Ollie, and together they help their Gramps overcome the loss of their beloved Grams, and although Halle and Ollie are Jewish, their busy parents never had much time for their family to be a part of a Jewish community, like they can be with Gramps. Anyone that loves books will connect with Halle, Nash, and their online friends, and after finishing this sweet, romantic story, you might be inspired to whip a batch of cupcakes for yourself. 

Fantasy          Emily Hoffman, Conestoga Valley SD