School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A picture book about the benefits of sharing an indulgence. Little Mouse finds a giant chocolate-chip, raspberry-cream cupcake, but it's too big for him to carry. He enlists the help of a few of his sweet-toothed friends, each of whom asks for a taste. Bird takes a nibble from the top, while Frog, Mole, Snail, Chipmunk, and Possum sink their paws into overflowing amounts of cake and icing. After slurping and chomping down their share, the friends gather around to peek inside at what appears to be an empty cupcake liner. Readers will be surprised to discover what is left and where it goes. Children will like the predictable rhythm, the rhyme on the last page, and the sound effects they are prompted to make throughout the book. Watercolor, pencil, and graphite ink illustrations and large brown text appear against a soft white background. The cheerfulness of this story extends to the jacket flap and endpapers. Sure to be a storytime favorite.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, this is a great lesson in sharing. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Little Mouse is hurrying about when he spots a chocolate-chip, raspberry-cream cupcake. But the cupcake is twice his size, and he has no idea how to get it home. Bird is asked to help, but that consists of his taking a big bite. Frog gets a taste as well. Mole says it's too big to go through his tunnel but takes his chunk. Then all the other animals ask for a taste, and Mouse kindly gives in. Even preschoolers will see what's coming next. The now considerably reduced cupcake is so small that It's just the right size to carry . . . in my tummy! The story is plain and simple, but Barton's whimsical artwork is the frosting on the cake. Set against a vanilla-white background, the only things in the pictures are the animals and one luscious cupcake. The purity and focus of the art is a good match with the simple story line that gets a boost in the climactic spread, where the animals devour the cupcake with vigor.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
