Jingwen decides that he will make all the cakes on his father’s list of dream cakes. He hopes recreation of all his father's desserts will bring ease his pain and "make everything better." This task requires money, numerous trips to the grocery store, purchasing ingredients with labels he cannot read, late nights of secretly baking and then consuming all the cake. To make all these confections without his mother's knowledge means some serious subterfuge as well as outright lies.

Lai ingeniously blends text and images. Both are essential essential story elements. Panels capture heart-wrenching moments as well as comical scenes. ​Encountering an unfamiliar culture and foreign language is brilliantly illustrated. A boy stands alone while those around him talk in words that resemble bizarre symbols couched inside speech balloons. At times some characters’ faces transform into monsters, revealing interior panic and fear.

Anyone with a sibling will relate to episodes where the brothers fight, appeal to mom to take sides, are jealous of the other. Like most relationships, there are moments when the boys plot and plan together and even forgive. It's easy to relate to these boys.

​There is a bonus: a recipe for Rainbow Cake can be found at the back of the book. This dessert is much more than a box cake mix. We're talking 14 eggs, separated and prepared individually before combining in a final step. It gave me added respect for Jingwen's ambitious plan to secretly create all the cakes. That's quite a feat.

And the cakes. O my, such cakes! Huge slices of almond chiffon cake with caramel sauce, chocolate raspberry torte, and pear tarte tatin with absolutely no tummy ache are the stuff dreams are made of. But it’s not all sweetness. Pie in the Sky tackles difficult subjects: immigration, grief, sibling rivalry, and language barriers as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old. While pastry creation and relocating to Australia may be unfamiliar to readers, the emotions are universal. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll definitely want a slice of cake.

More books where images forming an integral part of the stories of kids coping with strange new environments

This concept is brilliantly delicious. The tempting treatise begins with a Joy of Cooking title homage,  cookie bite cutout, and dedication to Grandma Monster who inspired a love for milk and cookies.  Seriously, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't enjoy a cookie? Who can resist this clever ode to a universally-loved treat?

I want to purchase additional copies of The Joy of Cookies and pair with batches of homemade treats. Note: If you don't have your own favorite recipe, instructions for Sugar Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies, and Monster Cookies are included within the pages. These cookie/book pairings will be for friends who need a little joy in their lives.  Fresh cookies and Cookie Monster's wisdom make the perfect gift for any occasion. 

Bonus: In place of the standard "All rights reserved" and copyright statement found in every published work, take a look at  Cookie Monster's assertion found on the verso:

Fun Things to Do:

• Using small milk cartons and other boxes, make a paper model of your own community.
• Learn about baking bread. Try making mini-loaves of bread, either from scratch or from frozen bread dough. Use all the senses to see, smell, touch, taste, and eat the bread. Discover what makes freshly-baked bread irresistible.
• Discover rhyming words. Make your own display of rhyming words, maybe with a cloud of words, either with colored paper or digitally.​
• ​Read the book to a friend and share your favorite words, sounds, pictures. Then let your friend read the book to you and discover your friend's favorite words, sounds, and pictures.

I entered the ALSC sponsored Top Ten contest by combining two of my favorite things: food and children's literature. This list is limited to sweet treats found in books for young people.
​Some recipes are created by the book's author. Other desserts are inspired by some of my favorite books for young readers. Bon Appetit!

A Clatter of Jars by Lisa Graff

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, readers gathered at The Dolphin Bookshop in New York's Port Washington, taking refuge from the blistering cold and sipping cups of creamy hot chocolate.  Many were members of a mother daughter book club that has been in existence for seventeen years and is sponsored by the local middle school.  They were treated to a presentation and reading by Kat Yeh, author of The Truth About Twinkie Pie.  Kat’s easy charm and graciousness immediately engaged the multigenerational audience.

She shared with us some “secret ingredients” that are part of her first middle grade novel.

The truth is that her book has its origin with two food-related concepts. First is Twinkie Pie, a “comfort” dessert consisting of Twinkies, whipped cream, and flavorings.  For some time, Kat had considered writing a screenplay or cookbook centered on food of 1970’s.  One day as she was developing a concept for her book, the words “Twinkie Pie” flashed into her mind and so began a story featuring Twinkies.

The other inspiration occurred when she reached an impasse in the story and couldn’t figure out how to proceed.  Leaving her manuscript and powering down the laptop, she turned to the Food Network and began to watch cooking shows.  An episode of “Chopped” where each contestant was given a box of ingredients from which each must create a meal intrigued Kat and crystallized her story idea. GiGi, like the TV show contestants, was in a similar situation.  Life had handed her a "box of ingredients," events over which she had no control.  While she could not choose what life dished out, she could choose how she would respond.  She could create her own recipe for life.

This warm and wonderful book is thoughtful and reassuring.  The recipes are an embrace of comfort as GiGi works through the challenges which life delivers.  Serving "One-Two Punch", "The Perfect Kiss", or "Cherries in the Snow" (recipes included at the end of chapters) would be a fitting compliment to this book discussion.  In addition to a mother daughter club selection, this book is also a great read for anyone reaching for a delicious slice life.

For a more detailed review, check out this review by Stacy Dillon.