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Peanut Butter & Cupcake
For fans of The Day the Crayons Quit , Little Pea , or How Are You Peeling?
What’s a little piece of bread to do when he’s feeling lonely? Find a friend, of course!
And that’s exactly what Peanut Butter tries to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soulmate? Young readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each mismatched pairing.
In a story that pairs silliness with poignancy, and friendship with anthropomorphic food, Terry Border, the photography mastermind behind the Bent Objects project, makes a triumphant entrance into the children's book world. Complete with a rhyming refrain, this is sure to be a favorite family read-aloud--and laugh-aloud.
Praise for PEANUT BUTTER & CUPCAKE
"Border’s witty food comedy will lure children who are hungry for clever visual entertainment."-- Publishers Weekly
"[T]he creatively zany photographs...will make this a read-aloud hit."-- School Library Journal
"This book would be a great read-aloud on friendship and food."-- Library Media Connection
What’s a little piece of bread to do when he’s feeling lonely? Find a friend, of course!
And that’s exactly what Peanut Butter tries to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soulmate? Young readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each mismatched pairing.
In a story that pairs silliness with poignancy, and friendship with anthropomorphic food, Terry Border, the photography mastermind behind the Bent Objects project, makes a triumphant entrance into the children's book world. Complete with a rhyming refrain, this is sure to be a favorite family read-aloud--and laugh-aloud.
Praise for PEANUT BUTTER & CUPCAKE
"Border’s witty food comedy will lure children who are hungry for clever visual entertainment."-- Publishers Weekly
"[T]he creatively zany photographs...will make this a read-aloud hit."-- School Library Journal
"This book would be a great read-aloud on friendship and food."-- Library Media Connection
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 29, 2014
18 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
April 12, 2015
Nathan and I crashed Barnes & Nobles one rainy day last week. I was planning on staying for just 45 min or so to let Nate play with the train table and read a few picture books, but we ended up staying for... 3 hours!!! Not kidding! We did purchase 2 bananas, a diet pepsi, and a vanilla milk, so they did get a bit of money out of us. But anyway... THIS is one of the many books Nate brought over to me to read and of all the many books we read that day, THIS WAS THE WINNER!
Peanut Butter just wants to find someone to play with, but no one is down. Not Cupcake, and certainly not Soup. But then he finds you-know-who ;) and the playing commences! And soon everyone wants in on the fun. Peanut Butter, being such a cool guy, lets them all in on the good times with no hard feelings. The pictures in this book are awesome and will make you want to eat peanut butter on white bread for dinner!!!! 5 stars!!!!
Peanut Butter just wants to find someone to play with, but no one is down. Not Cupcake, and certainly not Soup. But then he finds you-know-who ;) and the playing commences! And soon everyone wants in on the fun. Peanut Butter, being such a cool guy, lets them all in on the good times with no hard feelings. The pictures in this book are awesome and will make you want to eat peanut butter on white bread for dinner!!!! 5 stars!!!!
November 23, 2023
When my daughter was first starting to learn to read, this was a favorite book. The illustrations/photography are so great and the story is really cute. Perfect for new little readers.
February 22, 2018
Funny, clever and engaging. Peanut Butter is a piece of toast trying to make friends. The main comment from Indy at this stage is that toast didn't have any eyes. How can he see? This makes sense of course! Repetition and rhyming, great little pictures. The moral of this one is finding the right friends and having fun with them after the initial hurdle of having the confidence to do so. A funny little addition with this one is Cupcake is playing on a pogo stick, and Indy really wants to give this ago. It does look fun!
February 19, 2015
Peanut butter is new in town and looking for a new friend. Will it be cupcake? Hamburger? Soup? No. Certainly not soup. Soup is a jerk in this one. ugh.
I don't know why but this appealed to me so much. Just a different book I guess. Photographed illustrations of found objects. Little PB is so cute.
I don't know why but this appealed to me so much. Just a different book I guess. Photographed illustrations of found objects. Little PB is so cute.
February 27, 2015
I just read this to a second and fourth grade class and both classes loved it. They especially loved the photography, and the story became quite interactive. In addition, the message behind the story is one all of the students could relate to. I hope Terry Border continues to create more works of art such as this for children. I would highly recommend it to anyone for kids of all ages.
August 7, 2016
AMAZING! I loved that real life objects were used to illustrate the book and that peanut better was trying to make himself fit in with everything and everyone except Jelly in the beginning. Definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
September 4, 2017
A funny, food, friendship story.
April 30, 2020
This book is adorable.
June 23, 2016
The title is a bit misleading—the story isn't about Peanut Butter and Cupcake together. I felt a bit let down when I realized that. But other than that, this is an adorable book about how Peanut Butter finds a friend in a new town. The illustrations are whimsical and unusual—"done by manipulating and photographing three-dimensional objects," as the inside of the title page notes. I think this might go on my wishlist for future children!
February 5, 2019
This would make a great book for the first week of school!
This is darling. Peanut butter is new and is trying to find a friend. He promises to make them laugh...but everyone is busy doing something else. (My favorite is hamburger who has to walk his dogs...his hot dogs.) Finally, peanut butter feels discouraged and sits down on a bench alone. Soon jelly comes and peanut butter and jelly go perfectly together...the illustrations are great and this book is such fun!
This is darling. Peanut butter is new and is trying to find a friend. He promises to make them laugh...but everyone is busy doing something else. (My favorite is hamburger who has to walk his dogs...his hot dogs.) Finally, peanut butter feels discouraged and sits down on a bench alone. Soon jelly comes and peanut butter and jelly go perfectly together...the illustrations are great and this book is such fun!
June 14, 2015
Amazingly great book. The photography is great and could even be a show like Tumble Leaf!
It's a story about trying to find friends which is something we can all relate too. Honestly it was a touching story which made my daughter enthralled and myself warm and fuzzy on the inside. I had to give my wife a hug afterwards because I felt like Peanut Butter right before I met her!
It's a story about trying to find friends which is something we can all relate too. Honestly it was a touching story which made my daughter enthralled and myself warm and fuzzy on the inside. I had to give my wife a hug afterwards because I felt like Peanut Butter right before I met her!
July 29, 2014
Who can resist a fun, clever, witty, and visually appealing tale about anthropomorphic food? The photos are big and bright, demanding attention. Plus the text adds to the visuals instead of distracting. Would be great for older storytimers who can handle a meatier story.
August 2, 2014
I just think the illustrations are so fun in this book!
January 25, 2016
Cute friendship book. Interesting photo art!
August 10, 2015
This is a great story about friendship for the beginning of the school year.
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September 12, 2015This was great fun to read aloud to a 3 year old and a 12 year old. The elder was seriously affronted that peanut butter could go with meatballs and French fries.
October 30, 2015
Silly fun. Kids will enjoy peanut butter's friend-making refrain...and probably be relieved when jelly finally comes along.
May 1, 2018
Peanut butter wants a friend to play soccer with and just what food goes best with peanut butter..?
Loved the pictures for this book!
Loved the pictures for this book!
October 27, 2024
Peanut Butter & Cupcake (Hardcover)
by Terry Border
Good social emotional learning book. This book shows young children and english as a second language about finding new friends and learning to keep trying. The book was used for a comparative essay with two students paired and talking to each other.
by Terry Border
Good social emotional learning book. This book shows young children and english as a second language about finding new friends and learning to keep trying. The book was used for a comparative essay with two students paired and talking to each other.
March 21, 2020
Too cute...my bestie Carmen Folse is reading stories around on Facebook and I never heard of this one or the others. This was too cute. Since peanut butter is my favorite thing, I had to find out what his story was about.
January 24, 2019
Too cute! But I really thought Peanut Butter and Cupcake's friendship would be the center of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
Peanut butter is having trouble making friends. No one wants to play soccer with him. But then he finally meets Jelly. I like the style of the pictures. Very different.
March 27, 2019
This is an adorable storytime book. Peanut Butter moves to a new house and wants to make friends. He takes his new ball (that he is good at balancing on his head, but not great at kicking with his feet) and tries to find someone to play with him. He finds plenty of new someones to play with that he COULD make chuckle down deep in their belly, and they could go together like Peanut Butter and Hamburgers. Or Peanut Butter and Cupcakes. Finally, he finds a friend that is a perfect match.
A perfect(ly funny) story about liking people just the way they are. The pictures are super cute too, Literally just photographs of food, acting all human and stuff. My two and four year old (and I) loved it.
A perfect(ly funny) story about liking people just the way they are. The pictures are super cute too, Literally just photographs of food, acting all human and stuff. My two and four year old (and I) loved it.
October 6, 2016
Peanut Butter & Cupcake, written by Terry Border, is a fantasy picture book about a personified peanut butter who is searching for a friend to play soccer with. Peanut Butter encounters many other personified foods, and asks if they will play soccer with him. All of the other foods reject the lonely Peanut Butter, until he meets Jelly, and of course they “go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly.” Once the other foods see Peanut Butter and Jelly having fun, however, they all join together to play one big game of soccer.
This book is more than just about funny food puns, although it does include a number of good ones. It is a story that teaches readers that friends can ultimately come in an all shapes and sizes. Although Peanut Butter and Jelly instantly become good friends, Peanut ultimately becomes friends all of the different types of food in this story.
Because this is a relatively new children’s book (published in 2014), this book has yet to receive an award. However, because of its amazing illustrations (colorful photographs of food with arms and legs), hilarious use of language, and inspiring message, I expect this book to receive many awards in the coming years.
This book is an excellent read aloud option for a first or second grade class. This would be a great read aloud at the beginning of the school year when building community between students. After reading the book, the teacher could have students write down their favorite food. The students could then circle the room, pairing up with other students and writing sentences such as: “We go together like __(student’s favorite food)___ and ___(partner's favorite food)____!” My class used a similar activity at the beginning of this school year. This lesson not only gave my students a great ice breaker and provided us with some entertaining student work to put on the walls, but it also taught my students a valuable lesson that you can be friends with anyone, despite your differences.
This book is more than just about funny food puns, although it does include a number of good ones. It is a story that teaches readers that friends can ultimately come in an all shapes and sizes. Although Peanut Butter and Jelly instantly become good friends, Peanut ultimately becomes friends all of the different types of food in this story.
Because this is a relatively new children’s book (published in 2014), this book has yet to receive an award. However, because of its amazing illustrations (colorful photographs of food with arms and legs), hilarious use of language, and inspiring message, I expect this book to receive many awards in the coming years.
This book is an excellent read aloud option for a first or second grade class. This would be a great read aloud at the beginning of the school year when building community between students. After reading the book, the teacher could have students write down their favorite food. The students could then circle the room, pairing up with other students and writing sentences such as: “We go together like __(student’s favorite food)___ and ___(partner's favorite food)____!” My class used a similar activity at the beginning of this school year. This lesson not only gave my students a great ice breaker and provided us with some entertaining student work to put on the walls, but it also taught my students a valuable lesson that you can be friends with anyone, despite your differences.
February 15, 2019
Peanut Butter & Cupcake! is about not giving up when you are in a new place trying to make friends. Peanut Butter has just moved to a new town and goes out to search for new friends. The first few friends are too busy to give him a chance to play with them. Ultimately, Peanut Butter finds his friend, and their laughter brings all the friend groups together.
The theme for Peanut Butter & Cupcake! is about friendship and not giving up when you don’t make friends right away.
Peanut Butter & Cupcake! is a great book for visual learners and for kids who are struggling to make friends. The fact that the book shows real pictures of food as the characters allows kids to not feel the disappointment they would feel if it were a real person.
I would recommend this book because it allows parents and teachers to read it to kids to show that it is always hard finding friends at first, but you always end up finding friends at the end. It can also be an easily self-read book by a kid, even if they are not able to fully read yet because the words are repeated each time he meets a new friend. It is very interesting how creative the author made the characters out of pictures of real food from our daily lives.
The theme for Peanut Butter & Cupcake! is about friendship and not giving up when you don’t make friends right away.
Peanut Butter & Cupcake! is a great book for visual learners and for kids who are struggling to make friends. The fact that the book shows real pictures of food as the characters allows kids to not feel the disappointment they would feel if it were a real person.
I would recommend this book because it allows parents and teachers to read it to kids to show that it is always hard finding friends at first, but you always end up finding friends at the end. It can also be an easily self-read book by a kid, even if they are not able to fully read yet because the words are repeated each time he meets a new friend. It is very interesting how creative the author made the characters out of pictures of real food from our daily lives.
November 22, 2017
Although I love the story being told, I cannot stand the illustrations. They were too real for a children's book and kind of creeped me out to be honest. Illustrations could've been more cartoon looking and I would've liked it a lot more. More about the actual story, I really enjoyed it. It was upbeat and followed a rhythm which made it more enjoyable for the students. I read this book out loud to my students so they could hear the rhythm and the way the story was supposed to be heard. It was also a very silly story and I thought it was very creative how it ended up being peanut butter and cupcake rather than jelly! This was a surprise for students as they read.
May 2, 2018
Perfect for youngsters who are having difficulty making friends in a new town/school, etc. The real standouts are the images, which are manipulated objects that have been photographed and really aid in bringing the foodie concept to life - and illustrates Terry Border's style well. I liked the repeating stanza as well, though I wish PB would've gone against the grain and buddied up with a treat other than jelly.
December 3, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Realistic
Date: 3-14
Grade Range: 1-4
This book is a hoot. Peanut butter is the new kid and hes looking for his best friend, but can't seem to find one. He meets all these other food items (like an egg) and just doesn't seem to click. It's a story about friendship and being accepting of others. It's a goofy story with actual food pictures for the illustrations. It keeps the kids engaged because they want to see what food is next and what they'll be doing.
Date: 3-14
Grade Range: 1-4
This book is a hoot. Peanut butter is the new kid and hes looking for his best friend, but can't seem to find one. He meets all these other food items (like an egg) and just doesn't seem to click. It's a story about friendship and being accepting of others. It's a goofy story with actual food pictures for the illustrations. It keeps the kids engaged because they want to see what food is next and what they'll be doing.
January 23, 2019
Peanut butter is new in the neighborhood and wants to find a friend to play soccer with. He goes around and finds many potential food friends but none want to play. The story has a cute repeating rhyme that kids might find both fun and silly but what I found most enjoyable about this book was the amazing pictures. Food posed in all different positions with bended wire arms and legs. It just looked great!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2015
Young children will love this story that features fun photographs of their favorite foods. Peanut butter is looking for a friend, but everybody from hot dog to cupcake to egg is too busy to play. My only complaint is the title. Cupcake is not a major character, but it is probably part of the title because cupcakes are so popular right now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews