Saturday, 4 April 2015

Ellie's Magical Bakery: Brilliant Birthday Bakes by Ellie Simmonds (Children's, 7 years +, 8/10E, short 'n' sweet review)


January 2015, Red Fox, 176 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Content: some humour

Ellie is going to her first ever birthday party! But first she has to bake a brilliant birthday cake for her new friend Talia.

But her magical recipe book has gone missing! Will Ellie find it in time?

Nayu's thoughts 
Although I wasn't entirely enamoured by book 2, and still was unable to suspend total belief about Ellie's circumstances, I confess my love for this series grew in this latest story. Victoria Sponge is sweet (no pun intended), I love the way that she acts as the adult required when younger/inexperienced bakers need to bake, being the one to handle the potentially dangerous side of baking like using the oven. 

I was entranced at the thought of her being stuck in the book when something major happened – I could feel Ellie's distress at her friend not being with her, and was scared of her evil family who were and did (only for a short time) spoil Ellie's love of baking. I thought it was clever how no-bake sweet treats were involved in the story, showing readers that not everything needs to be baked. I'm actually looking forward to the next book and more of Victoria Sponge's magic.

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