Ruth's Bake Shop

Ruth's Bake Shop

Ruth, an octopus who loves to bake, spends so much time making shortbread, pies, cookies, and cakes that she opens her own bake shop.From School Library JournalRuth, an octopus, loves to bake, and her many arms mix, roll, decorate, and taste an array of cookies, pies, bread, pastries, and cakes. After her bake-a-thon, she opens a bake shop and becomes immensely popular. There is an orderly structure to the text and illustrations. Each item is introduced by the statement, "Ruth loves cookies" (or pies, etc.). The following spread shows and lists the varieties that Ruth bakes. Humor is served up when she sports a pretzel on every arm and positions an octopus bride and groom atop a wedding cake. By tracing the goodies from left to right and row by row, a child can keep track of such concoctions as cannoli and Mississippi mud pie. Oddly, the exception is the first page of cookies. Its arrangement begins at the bottom right, working up from right to left. The illustrations, however, are not as pleasing as the text. Colored-pencil beige and brown are predominant for Ruth, shoppers, cookies, and breads. Often the mixing bowls are more vibrant than the baked goods, although pies and cakes fare better with their fruit fillings and frostings. This book has less child appeal than Spohn's Clementine's Winter Wardrobe (Orchard, 1989), and because many of the goodies may be unfamiliar to children, the bland colors and similar shapes won't attract. Best for one-on-one sharing with those who like to match words and pictures. --Jane Saliers, Atlanta-Fulton Public LibraryCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.