The Cave Downwind of the Café

Rene and Glumfoot

by Mikey Please

Glumfoot saves the day once again in another brilliantly disgusting story about hungry bellies, bogey broth and human-eating ogres from award-winning author Mikey Please

Every night, Glumfoot dreams of delicious meals and every night he is served the same his dad’s bogey broth. He is overjoyed one day to discover the new café at the edge of the woods – but when one very hungry ogre decides he’ll eat the owner, it’s down to Glumfoot to save the chef, and with it, his dreams of ever having a good meal.

Revisit the Cafe at the Edge of the Woods and rejoin Rene and Glumfoot in this return to their gloriously gruesome culinary world where you're never quite sure what's on the menu – or who the customer will be…

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Food, Poetry, Monsters, Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** After finishing The Café at the Edge of the Woods this morning, I just have to read its sequel. 🥰🥰🥰.

[Sarah BT]

This serves as a prequel of sorts or could be read alongside the Cafe at the Edge of the Woods almost as if each book is one side of the same story from different points of view. Sweet and adorable and I just want all the books in this world!

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and wholesome follow-up/prequel to The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods. It's very enjoyable and the art is, as usual, phenomenal.

I think at this point I'll read whatever Mikey comes out with, regardless of whether it's mature science-fiction or children's picture books. They are really quite special.

[Emma Brackett]

No shit the author worked in animation, and I'm not just saying that because the main character looks like Finn the Human. The more I think about it, the art does look like that SoCal style mixed with water colors. Everyone clearly has their shapes and bend and twist and colored in with these loose greens, blues, and browns. It's supposed to be a little nasty but it's almost too pretty for that.

[Kris Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prequel which shows how Glumfoot found the cafe. Not needed but certainly fun.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cave Downwind of the Cafe is kind of a prequel to The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods. It almost gives us the exact same story, but told from a different perspective. Is there anything wrong with that? No, there isn't. Especially when the illustrations to this world are so good. Just like the previous book, this is a very cute, rhyming story which will give young ones plenty to delight in. The illustrations are vibrant, and detailed, perfectly bringing to life the characters and their tale.
I would definitely like to see another book in this series, hoping that Glumfoot and Rene's world is developed a little more next time around.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I adored this book and was thrilled to discover it is a prequel to another title, which I will absolutely be buying for my students after seeing how delightful this one is. Glumfoot lives in a cave with his father, who lovingly cooks him booger broth for breakfast every morning. While Glumfoot appreciates his dear old dad, he longs for sweeter things in life. One day, he discovers a café at the edge of the forest that smells absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, an ogre catches the scent too, and unlike Glumfoot, the ogre is not interested in pastries or treats. He wants a far different delicacy: PEOPLE.

Gloriously illustrated and richly colored, this picture book is funny, silly, and surprisingly heartfelt. The rhyming verse especially shines during Glumfoot’s confrontation with the ogre, giving the story wonderful energy and making it a natural fit for reading aloud. The combination of dynamic prose and expressive artwork creates a book that feels both modern and timeless in the best way.

A genuinely fun read-aloud with strong child appeal, memorable visuals, and a warm emotional center underneath the humor. This would be an excellent addition to an elementary library collection and an absolute joy to share with students.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rene and Glumfoot return in this prequel to Please’s The Café at the Edge of the Woods (2024). In this story, readers learn how clever, green Glumfoot came to be Rene’s right-hand monster, waiting tables at her rustic cafe in the woods. Like the first book, the primary tension of the tale is how to feed an ogre, except this time Glumfoot must find a way to keep the ogre from devouring Rene. Readers will delight in the spritely dialogue between Glumfoot and the towering ogre, with illustrated panels providing close-ups of each character’s growing horror or delight. Ample use of gross-out expressions like “fungus toes” and “booger broth” will have readers laughing out loud. Savvy readers will recognize the sepia-toned palette and cover art’s symmetry from the earlier book. This would make a delightful and dramatic read aloud for elementary school-aged groups. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[pineapple tofu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like every morning, small creature of the woods, Glumfoot, watches their dad make a booger broth for breakfast. But on one particular day, Glumfoot smells something divine. They follow the smell outside the cave and see a cafe on top of a hill. However, Glumfoot isn’t the only creature that smells the cafe; an ogre is determined to eat the human who runs it. So, it’s up to Glumfoot to persuade the ogre in different ways not to eat the human, all in the backdrop of wildflowers and pies.
Pastries and savory dishes collide with fungus toes and pickled bats in this sweet-smelling picture book that tells the difference between a cafe and the disgusting foods that the creatures of the woods eat. Soft autumn colors paint a picture on every page as brush strokes of browns and greens spread across the pages. Readers will find Glumfoot’s persuasions to deter the ogre from the cafe hilarious. Part morning dew and soiled cloths, this picture book will delight.

[LibraryKath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun rhyme from Mikey Please, a little prequel to The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods. The story of Glumfoot the goblin who dreams of delicious food, not the creepy slop his family serves. He finds an amazing little cafe at the edge of the woods, but a local ogre decides that while the food there doesn't sound so appetising, the owner sounds very tasty! Glumfoot has to find a way to save the chef, the cafe and the meals he dreams of eating. I love the kooky art style of these books and the poetry is delightful. Fun for any age to read.

[CosyMomentsUnderOak · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliantly odd little gem!

I listened to the audiobook and loved every minute of it. The narration brings out the story’s quirky rhythm and perfectly balances the creepy with the cosy. Still, I definitely need to get the physical book to enjoy the illustrations — I can already imagine how wonderfully weird they must be!

It’s a story that kids will laugh at and adults will secretly adore. Equal parts gross, funny, and heartwarming — like a bowl of bogey soup made with love.

[Srujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

📌 Children's Picture Book 28 of 2026.

I read this immediately after reading The Cafe At The Edge of The Woods. Writing these fleeting thoughts before I forget. I want to come back and write a proper review for this one.

📌 I got to read this one, thanks to a Digital Review Copy from the publisher, Harper Collins on Edelweiss. I am writing this review voluntarily, simply because I loved reading this book.The feelings, thoughts and opinions are completely honest and entirely mine.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a café opens near the woods, the supernatural creatures who live there take notice, each for their own reasons. Glumfoot longs to sample the delicious treats whose scents drift from the bakery, while others are interested in sampling the baker instead! (After all, they are monsters.) Filled with a touch of gross-out humor, the story keeps things playful and fun, and it ultimately delivers a happy ending for everyone.

[Robin Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prequel to the Cafe at the Edge of the woods. Tells more about the character Glumfoot, how he accidentally happened to become the waiter, and how he convinced the ogre not to eat the human cafe owner- Rene.

I enjoyed this book. Wonderful artwork and luxurious smooth paper pages.

Love the name Glumfoot, very creative and silly.

[Dea Evani A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aku baca karena tertarik sama ilustrasinya. Man, why does children's picture book always goes hard? This is why I like artists. The rhyme is silly & creative. Sayangnya aku baca buku ini pertama, harusnya buku satunya duluan.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different view of the cafe at the edge of the woods. Glumfoot saves the owner and becomes her assistant. Please captures the moods of his characters and his illustrations give the background information.

[Katie Burton-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A peculiar boy saves a young woman from a hungry orge.
This book is funny and has great themes of bravery.
I really like how this prequel really sets the tone for The cafe at the edge of the woods.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do with a picture book about ogres and puff pastries? Read on, my dear friend, read on.

Themes: food, poetry, fantasy/magical creatures, stories that rhyme
Vibes: cozy woodland creatures
Ages: 1-3rd+ grade
Pub year: 2025

[Jamie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely wholesome addition to book 1.
Mikey's illustrations are so beautiful and have such a lovely tactile quality to them.

[Shim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting art and rhyming scheme. And very well enjoyed by the kiddos with a good mixture of simple and more advanced words to learn.

[Taylor Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prequel to how Rene hired her waiter Glumfoot and how he is helping the ogres in the woods. Written in a rhyming scheme with delightful illustrations!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long read-aloud. Fun prequel.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story, I loved the rhyming, I have mixed feelings about the illustrations but they aren't bad.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, very pretty and very sweet.

[Cassy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, I liked the rhyming cadence.

[Saumya Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cuter than the first one has more heart

[Beau Manglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this picture book! It's funny, has a main character whose quick thinking solves a big problem (in a funny way), and features stunning illustrations!

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikey Please's artwork just makes this book even more fascinating and enjoyable.

[Caitlyn Caddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as loved as TCATEOTW but still so beautiful with the illustrations and I will continue reading whatever the author gives us from this universe. Already preordered the next book!