Christmas Cakes

by Francesca Bosca, Giuliano Ferri (Illustrator)

Christmas would not be Christmas for the villagers in San Vitale without their precious Christmas cakes. It was a tradition. But this year, something dreadful happened--all the delicious cakes have disappeared! How Lucas the baker's son saves Christmas for the village of San Vitale and introduces a brand-new holiday tradition in the process is a joyous story that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too earnest and saccharine, too blech ''instant classic," for me. Nothing really wrong with it, nice message, but so many little things I didn't like (the huge snouts on the foxes (?aardvarks? weasels?), the fact that we first meet the lonely thief as if he's a monster, but really he is a known neighbor. The theme surely deserves a better presentation.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A father-son bakery scene in a European village, stolen Christmas cakes, angry villagers, a lonely thief... and a happy ending with a joyful Christmas celebration in which no one is lonely anymore.

It reminded me a bit of a European Grinch story.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a boy and his father, the baker, and the mysterious disappearance of the Christmas cakes they make for all the villagers. Great story to teach about not leaving anyone out.

[Attaboi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of the grinch that is much worse than the grinch. The grinch is also better because the grinch repents and makes amends on his own and not after he is caught red handed. I was particularly annoyed that at the end the bear eats yet another cake after eating all the cakes the day before, this is presented to the reader as just. The main character also just walks into a home that isn't his and noting bad happens. You should never just enter someone elses home ESPECIALLY if you have reason to believe the occupant of that home is a thief.

[Alissa Faust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucas and his father make cakes for everyone in the village, but they mysteriously disappear overnight. As Lucas finds the culprit, he finds an unlikely friend and they start a new Christmas tradition.