The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake

The Bakery Dragon #2

by Devin Elle Kurtz

Running a bakery is no cakewalk for a tiny dragon with a big sweet tooth! In this follow-up to The Bakery Dragon, tummy rumbles turn to belly laughs as Ember learns to bake a cake with a sprinkle of fairy tale magic.

Batter up!

Ember is in charge of the bakery while the baker takes a trip and he's excited to show what he can do! When an opinionated fairy princess swoops in demanding a cake, he eagerly agrees. So what if he's only baked bread before? How hard can it be?

The sugar hits the fan when Ember's first attempt is a complete disaster. He tries again and again, but the royal customer is not happy. Everyone told Ember he was such a good baker, so why can't he get this right? If he doesn't figure it out soon, the only thing on the menu will be humble pie.

Magic shimmers on every page of this feel-good picture book about making friends, making dessert and the power of perseverance.

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Dragons, Childrens, Food, Storytime, Fairies

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Devin Elle Kurtz lives in San Diego, California, with her dog, Kira, and her thirty-three houseplants. She’s been painting in Photoshop since the age of two when her artist mom first offered her a tablet pen. She was the lead background painter on the TV show “Disenchantment” at Rough Draft Studios from 2019-2021. The Bakery Dragon is her first picture book as an author-illustrator.

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but how is it possible to pack so much love, wholesomeness and encouragement into one small picture book?!

The first installment felt like a warm hug and somehow, this sequel made that feeling even more enchanting.

I feel like I just encountered something truly magical. Every page of this was filled with genuine care, from the empowering growth mindset storyline to the supportive friends that help Ember try and learn new things (and of course graciously eating any and all failed attempts of Ember, nice as they are). This has so many subtle messages of mistakes being okay and how important it is to not give up, even when things don't work out immediately the way they should.

The attention to detail (for example the little crate Ember stands on in the bakery being engraved with his name) is also so stunning and adds a lot of depth to the already impeccable art style. I am enamored with this world and the whimsical, heartfelt art and am keeping all my fingers crossed that this is far from the last time we get to see Ember. 💛💛

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved this book! Kids are already asking if there’s going to be a third one 😅

[Jason Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

bright, beautiful art works very well alongside a fun and caring story. Ember is a great character with heart, determination, and a smile. not as much story as the first book, but it is a strong story.

[MikaReadsFantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurts is an utterly charming graphic novel that is as cozy as freshly baked bread. The story follows Ember, a small and sweet dragon who works in a bakery and spends their days happily making loaves of bread. When a tiny fairy suddenly appears and demands a birthday cake for their queen, Ember realizes they have no idea what a cake even is. What follows is a delightful quest to learn how to bake one, filled with curiosity, kindness, and a touch of magic.

Though the story is short, it leaves a strong impression. Its greatest strength lies in the lovable characters and the enchanting illustration style. Devin Elle Kurts’ colorful and magical artwork pulls you right into a warm and whimsical fantasy world that is easy to get lost in. Every page feels inviting and full of heart. I also really appreciated the gentle message at the core of the book, which celebrates learning, helping others, and stepping bravely into the unknown. I would absolutely love to see more of Ember’s adventures in the future.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hello Dragon Baker,
I will arrive this afternoon with a VERY VERY VERY Important request!!! Do not let me DOWN!
Princess Turnip"

Ember the Bakery Dragon has baked a lot (and I mean a LOT) of bread. He's made hearty whole loaves, tasty French baguettes, and even round loaves with fanciful designs cut into the top.

After a bit of a rocky start with his baker friend, Ember has spent every day in the bakery. He's confident in the kitchen, especially when:

"Beatrice the baker called Ember a 'natural.' "

Then, that is all thrown for a loop when Princess Turnip comes in and requests Ember to bake a CAKE. Ember has never made something like that before but how hard it can be?

Soon the bakery is pilling high with rejected bread (and variation on bread) loaves. How can Ember figure this out? What if he isn't a natural after all?

Ohmygosh. I regret giving the previous book 5 stars cause WOW, the first one was so freaking good but this one was that extra bit better.

I loved that we were able to get such great character development through just a few short lines and some truly excellent illustrations.

I thought the color palette was stunning and all the little details that the illustrator put in the background were so fun (like the titles on the books or all the little fairy feedback at the end).

And the message of the book! I freaking loved it!

I was very much a "I have to be perfect at everything at the very beginning" kind of kid, so I definitely appreciate how this story shows that it's okay to learn from your mistakes and to ask for help when you are out of ideas.

Overall, I'm really REALLY crossing my fingers that the author writes another one. This has to be one of my favorite picture books this year!

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh the little fairy IS A TURNIP!?!?

This is so visually rich and sumptuous, not only with the baked goods but with the visual easter eggs as well. I loved this message for young readers, and even as a reminder for parents: you can’t expect to do something well when you don’t fully understand the situation. This little dragon really spoke to my inner gifted kid… and my gifted kid burnout. This is delivered in a fun and organic way. And the side dragons, ha! I loved this. So joyful and sweet. 💜 What a kind little book.

Also, I love bread, so there you go. 🍞🥖🥨🥐🫓

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was adorable, yes im adding it towards my challenge sue me LOL but this is a book i would love to read to my kid (if i have one), the art is stunning and it just feels so warm and whimsical

[Claire Bergethon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable, super comforting little picture book - just what the doctor ordered. An absolute delight <3

[Matthew Kugler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent theme, beautiful art, limited character development :)

[Ellyn → Allonsythornraxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

03/12/2025
5 ⭐️
I will read anything that Devin Elle Kurtz creates for this series. It's so adorable and wholesome and cozy!

✨ 171/100 read for 100 Graphics in a Year Reading Challenge ✨ + Graphicsathon Round 16 🎴Tarot Teams 🎴

My Blog | Letterboxd | Instagram | Bookstagram | Tumblr | Twitter | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Hoemance Book Club | Graphicsathon | Scoobathon | Wishlist

[Zellizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWWWWW MY HEART

This book is absolutely beautiful and wonderful and just feels like a warm hug!! (And I wish that gorgeous magic public library with the stained glass windows was real....)

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventures of Ember the Dragon continue when he is asked to make a birthday cake for the first time.

[Irono Yami · Rating 5 out of 5]

craving cakes now

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute continuation of the Bakery Dragon story where Ember learns about cake and learns how to make one.

[Megan Horack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even cuter than "The Bakery Dragon". The artwork is so vivid and detailed, and it's refreshing to see that it's not AI.

[Rikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do I keep buying these books? Because they’re hella cute and I love the art. The story is simple as always, and it has a good lesson for kids. Short enough to keep their attention span for the duration of the book. I don’t have any kids, but I just can’t pass up the really cute art that this book series has.

[Heather]

I love the art in these books.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

cuuuuuute 💕🎂

[Katharine Knoodle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved the first book, but my kids are convinced this one’s even better! It sparked such great talks about how you can still struggle with something even if you’re really good at it, and about helping others learn new things. The illustrations are gorgeous — every page feels like a little treasure. I also love how Ember handles feedback; it’s such a sweet example for kids. This story is funny, thoughtful, and totally adorable, with little moments that reminded us of Amelia Bedelia. Definitely one we’ll be rereading again and again!

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet! And now, I'd like a dragon to bake me a cake, please.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My coworker told me that they were coming out with a sequel to "The Bakery Dragon." And by they, I mean Devin Elle Kurtz. The sequel: "The Bakery Dragon and The Fairy Cake."

["Running a bakery is no cakewalk for a tiny dragon with a big sweet tooth! In this follow-up to The Bakery Dragon, tummy rumbles turn to belly laughs as Ember learns to bake a cake with a sprinkle of fairy tale magic.

Batter up!

Ember is in charge of the bakery while the baker takes a trip and he's excited to show what he can do! When an opinionated fairy princess swoops in demanding a cake, he eagerly agrees. So what if he's only baked bread before? How hard can it be?

The sugar hits the fan when Ember's first attempt is a complete disaster. He tries again and again, but the royal customer is not happy. Everyone told Ember he was such a good baker, so why can't he get this right? If he doesn't figure it out soon, the only thing on the menu will be humble pie.

Magic shimmers on every page of this feel-good picture book about making friends, making dessert and the power of perseverance."]

The first book is a cute little tale about friendship and acceptance and the real gold in life: bread.

This second book was about new friends, new adventures, failing but trying again, and where to go when you don't know what to do next: the library.

This book was just as beautiful and colorful and popping as the first. It was punny and adorable and just plan perfect. It has a message, but it's subtle enough that it's not in your face (looking at you German fairy tales).

I can't wait to bring this to book fairs in the fall!

#thebakerydragon #thebakerydragonandthefairycake #devinellekurtz #books #childrensbooks #childrenspicturebooks #picturebooks #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[Taylor Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Cat Carstairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are my new favorite thing ever. They're a dash of serotonin that can brighten any day, no matter how gloomy. Ember the dragon has my heart. Deserves 100/5 stars for the art alone. <3

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sweet (no pun intended) addition to the Bakery Dragon books!  While Kurtz’s first book introduced Ember and his discovery of baking bread, this story follows Ember learning new skills with the help of a feisty turnip fairy who has commissioned a birthday cake for her queen.  The story tackled this conflict creatively, as Ember bakes one creation after another, each seemingly matching the fairy’s request, but coming up short every time. Readers will be eager to see what kind of bread Ember finally creates—one that satisfies the fairy’s demands while still, quite clearly, not being a birthday cake. This story is just as magical as the first, but with more heart. We get to see Ember in a more personal light as he makes a new friend, learns new things, and ultimately faces his first inner conflict: am I good at this?

Of course the illustrations are where this book truly shines. Digitally created, the illustrations are just as wondrous as the first book, but with even more magic as Kurtz packs detail after detail into every page–from the cover jacket, to the hardcover underneath it, to the end pages, to the story pages.  Even the structure of each page is well thought out, as the basic square shapes in the beginning illustrate Ember’s structured life, only to then break into uneven sizes and shapes after the fairy requests an unfamiliar baked good (also illustrated in the shape of the fairy’s talk bubbles compared to everyone else’s).  Take your time reading this one as there is so much to see. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Wendy White · Rating 5 out of 5]

My three-year-old enjoyed this just as much as the first one. The first book already had lovely visuals, but the artist's continued refinement of their style is clear in this one, and the variety in environments was impressive. Ember gets some very expressive poses, and the take on fairies is fun.

Some topics my child was interested in discussing further were the difference between recipes and experimenting (particularly comparing Ember's efforts experimenting initially compared to the experiments he conducted at the end of the book once he had more information to work with).

We also talked about how it's much easier to get what you want when you make it very clear what it is you want - which was also a good opportunity to acknowledge sometimes parents want you to do something and they think you understand what they're asking for but you still don't, really, and we have to remind ourselves that things that are clear to us are not always clear to our kids.

Exploring Ember's expressions and what each could mean was also great, as there's a lot of nuanced ones here. So not only is there a story and imagery that appeals, there is also lots of opportunities to start good conversations with your kids!

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember is in charge of the bakery while the baker takes a trip, so when a fairy princess swoops in asking for a cake, Ember does everything he can to make one, even though he doesn’t know what a cake even is. He’s only ever baked bread, how hard can it be?

But when every attempt hits the fan, Ember begins to lose faith in himself to be able to do it, because if he doesn’t figure it out soon, all there will be is a pile of baked disasters.

I loved the first Bakery Dragon, so I knew I was going to have to get my hands on the second one. Obviously, I wasn’t disappointed.

As a librarian myself, I loved how they went to the library to do research and find recipes.

Visually, this book is bright and vivid with beautiful pages of scenery. Ember is the cutest dragon.

Overall, anyone who enjoyed the first one will also love and enjoy the follow up book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember, The Bakery Dragon is now an established bread maker, making golden loaves of deliciousness for his fellow dragons. Beatrice trusts him so much she even leaves him in charge of the bakery when she has far away deliveries. But when Princess Turnip comes by with an unusual request, the Bakery Dragon starts to doubt his skills. He's a bread maker and the princess wants a cake.

I can see using this in a classroom as it is a terrific story that demonstrates a growth mindset. The ingredients illustrated in the endpapers are clever, and I am entranced with the gorgeous golden colors in Kurtz's illustrations. A child will spend more time looking at the illustrations than reading the text. I loved it.

[MrsK Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

MrsK's Review: Read-Aloud Fantasy
Ember was known for his "natural" baking skill. "He loved baking bread!" His customers devoured even the burnt breads. When an unexpected letter is sent to Ember, he doubts the special request is something he can bake. He never has heard of a birthday cake bread. Even his notes wouldn't produce what the Princess wanted. Will Ember get beyond his self-doubt.?

With a beautifully crafted journey into what can be, little ones will quickly begin re-reading Ember's story whether they can read every word, or they create their own version... the hours spent with this tale is worthy of every home library! It is scrumptiously delectable...
Enjoy this celebration of seeing a task through to completion,
MrsK https://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ember, a dragon who loves to bake and eat bread, is thrilled with a royal order for a birthday cake. But the problem is that he's never baked a cake before, resulting in several failures that just don't measure up to what the princess wants. He starts to doubt his ability as a baker until she provides a recipe, and he stirs up just the right delicious dessert. Charming artwork, created with Photoshop and a tablet and enthusiastic text combine to create a picture book story that readers can almost smell, taste, and having them wanting to lick the spoon. This one will be best enjoyed by those who read the previous book featuring Ember.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't ordinarily review picture books, but omg this one is absolutely precious! I couldn't pass up reading it while cataloging it simply because the art is stunningly vibrant and warmly cozy. The characterization made me FEEL the little bakery dragon's--and the even littler fairy princess's--personality and emotions. The story is a sweet one about learning something new and needing the right tools for the job. (Shoutout to public libraries! ✊) I adored all the little background details throughout. I could definitely get lost in the visual world of this book.

It's a sequel! I must get my claws on the first one ASAP!