(2) K-3 An entourage of well-dressed animals sets out for a festive picnic in this wordless Dutch import. Just as they begin cake-baking and merry-making, an eagle swoops down (on the title page) and snags their picnic blanket and, with it, the animals' signature possessions -- the pig's parasol, the frog pair's soccer ball, the poodle's purse, and so on -- casting doubt on the titular promise of "cake for everyone." When the eagle drops everything off a cliff, high jinks ensue. As the animals hunt down their belongings, readers enjoy Tjong-Khing's Where's Waldo–like visual puzzle. But what's the viewer's best strategy? Track one animal at a time or immerse oneself in the simultaneous chases that unfold over multiple page-turns? There are no wrong answers, and indeed many opportunities for re-reading. Soft pastel-colored scenes with fine black outlines invite repeat readings and reward careful viewers with a myriad of hidden surprises. In the end, there is, indeed, cake for everyone -- even the trouble-making snake and gorilla.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024