  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 09/01/2019 A baker’s dilemma: where, oh where, did Thomas the gopher put the dried fruit for his special Winter’s Eve cake? His friend Lucy, a bright yellow bird, offers to help him search. As she flaps and then hops through a blizzard, she sees a sleek animal with some suspicious dried fruits. But wait! He returns the basket he found in the meadow—not a thief after all. In gratitude, Lucy and Thomas decide to make the stranger a special wintercake for his very own. Snowflakes in delightful variety dot the last double-page spread as the deep blues of winter contrast with the warm brown cave where the three new friends nibble the golden cake filled with jewel-toned fruit. Watercolor, gouache, and ink in panels, full-page spreads, and cameos show many details, sound bubbles, and humor to advance the story line, while descriptive language treats listeners to some intriguing words, such as “stout but nimble,” “forlorn and bereft,” and “sturdy and resilient.” Children will take in the message to beware of jumping to conclusions. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. School Library Journal - 10/01/2019 K-Gr 3—A lost basket of dried-up fruit kicks off an engaging picture book adventure. When a small mammal named Thomas misplaces the ingredients he had gathered to bake a cake for Winter's Eve, his bird friend Lucy spots a "tall, sleek animal" with the basket in his hands. Though she assumes he is a "good-for-nothing fruit thief," the creature she thought was a "scoundrel" kindly returns the fruit to Thomas, then departs. The two friends realize that the stranger must be "a noble chap" and decide to bring a wintercake to him. Their trek takes them through some challenging winter obstacles, but they finally find the animal's home and share the holiday and the wintercake with their new friend. The extended 48-page length allows time for the story to develop gently but purposefully. Narration, dialogue, and illustrations work perfectly together to establish characters, themes, and plot. Carefully varied layouts range from panels and circular frames to spreads, conveying both the hardships of winter as well as the cozy hominess of food, companionship, and home. Rich language shifts smoothly between evocative description and engaging dialogue, moving the story forward at just the right pace. The sense of friendship and sharing provides a warm, satisfying conclusion and also reinforces the dangers of assuming the worst about someone you don't know. VERDICT A first-rate example of a longer picture book for elementary-age readers and listeners.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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