Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka

by Maj Lindman

Puzzling over what to get Mother for her birthday, the Swedish sisters are relieved when Aunt Betty shows them how to bake a cake by themselves, but they forget to take it out of the oven in time. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Sweden, Food

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Maj Lindman (Mrs. Maj Lindman-Hulten) lived in Stockholm, Sweden. She attended the Royal Academy of Arts in Stockholm, and also studied art in Paris, France. She wrote and illustrated numerous children's books, but she is best known for her delightful tales of triplet girls Flicka, Dicka and Ricka and their boy counterparts, Snipp, Snapp and Snurr.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seen as old-fashioned now, but each of these stories teaches good morals. As the sweet triplets attempt to a bake a cake for their mother’s birthday they learn that while play is fun, responsibility comes first. “One thing at a time, and that done well, is a good plan.” Patience, responsibility, discipline, and diligence are just the ingredients the girls need to bake a beautiful cake for mother’s birthday surprise.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

2014: I liked Snipp Snapp Snurr and the Gingerbread better, but this was still a very nice little book—a lot tamer, though.

2018 update: My three-year-old is currently in love with this book, especially the page where the cake burns. :)

[Elevetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually remember reading, and liking, this one as a child. The sisters decide to bake a cake (go figure) for their mother for her birthday. After the first one burns due to inattentiveness (we've all been there), they make another one - a better one.

One thing I've noticed is that tears are shed in nearly every Flicka, Ricka, Dicka book and, usually, it's Dicka.

Also, I can't tell the 3 girls apart, other than that the fusspot, Dicka, cries more than the others. They have zero personality, let alone individuality. They could be clones.

They are clones.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Utterly trite except for the lesson it teaches. But still cute! avl openlibrary

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good test case today. My six year old and her friend let me read a couple of books to them. This was one of them. My daughter loves these Flicka, Ricka, Dicka books and I wanted to see if it was just her or if it was her age group. Part way through this book, we had an interruption. The older girls wanted the younger ones to come with them, which they were anxious to do, AFTER they heard the rest of the book.

I liked this one particularly because the girls bake a cake. They make a mistake and leave it in the oven too long. Their "aunt" responds calmly, helps them clean up and tells them to do it again. A good lesson in patience with oneself and others.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read this book at my mom’s home town library where she grew up. She had also read the Flicka books when she was young. They are timeless. A little dated, but classic, these books encourage love, generosity, honesty, helpfulness, and responsibility.

[Kendall Anne]

Ok these kid books are just so cute!!!!!!! My grandma owns practically them all, and I still remember her reading them to me when I was little! Great Swedish books, and even now I like to read them! =)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every single book in this series (and the Snip, Snap Snurr series as well). This one is particularly great for talking about skill building and how failing is often part of that, as well as the need for close attention to instructions. I love that they are allowed to have the disappointment of the first cake, but then gain confidence in their abilities (everything is faster and easier the second time around) with a success on the second try at making a cake. I love that the cake is also a service (something not just for themselves). I love that they value their family relationships and hold other people's experience in high regard and value these people as sources from which to seek advice.

[BlackhamBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover, with three identical girls, with their rhyming names ... hit a cord with me, a vague memory. There are several books featuring these triplets, and I'm sure I read some of them when I was young (as young as the triplets themselves). The book was originally published in 1955. This ex-library copy looked fairly old too. It was a cute story - their baking is a little different than we'd to it today (from a box we had on hand whereas they went to the store, I don't think I'd like raisins in it, Grandmother left the kids home alone expecting them to take the cake out of the oven ...)

A sentimental 4*

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Triplets, Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka asks Aunt Betty, a family friend, what would be a good present to give their mother for her birthday. Aunt Betty suggests a cake. The girls get the ingredients to make a cake. They forget to take the cake out of the oven at the allotted time, and it's ruined. What ever shall they do know? Aunt Betty suggests to bake another one. The second time around was much better.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each of these follows the same basic premise - Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka have a job to do, get into trouble, and end up making things right. Still, they're fun reads that teach kids a quick little lesson.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it a 3 at first though I did like the lesson of making a mistake and trying again and learning from it. But then I asked my 5-yr-old if she liked it a little or a lot and she said a lot. So it is a 4.

[Lexi V · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite picture books. i am so thankful for children's picture books that encourage principles of slow living and minimalism.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun! I baked with my family so I loved reading about it too.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gals bake a cake 🎂 for their mother on her birthday and learn some life lessons.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st read in elementary school, 5 Stars
Reread 28 September 2025, 4 Stars

[Amanda Malinaric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children’s book about three sweet daughters doing something nice for their mama on her birthday.

[Kaylee Klaassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grade Range: K - 3rd

This is such a cute book! I love books about baking, but they always seem to make me hungry for desserts! I could feel the love pouring out of these pages. I love how Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka wanted to do something special for their mom, for her birthday, and wanted to make something thoughtful for her! I really liked how kind Aunt Betty was to the girls when they burned the cake. The line that the mom says at the end of the book always melts my heart, "I love this cake, but I love my three little daughters even more". This always makes me think of and reminds me of the relationship that I have with my mom!

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert Whitman continues to amaze and please me a a mother and teacher. I'm completely delighted with this reprinted series of Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and especially Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake. here the triplets want to do something for Mother's birthday and with the guidance of a family friend who has known Mother since she was a child they decide to bake her favorite cake.

The illustrations are adorable. The plot is cute and has a lesson of it's own. The text is simple enough for early readers in the storybooks stage and the learning and teaching possibilities are numerous. Reading this with my preschooler I was able to use the text and illustrations together to read short phrases (each illustration features a descriptive phrase), tell time on the clock, and use logic and description to distinguish which girl was which in each picture. It is just wonderful!

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how I ended up with this book when I was a kid. I know I got it when I was very young, first or second grade. And I know I got it from my school. In the inside front cover of the book is the name of the school I went to for most of first and all of second grade. The book was already very, very old when I got it, already kind of falling apart. Inside the front cover is also written the year the school library acquired the book, 1957. Whoa! (My mom wasn't even a teenager in 1957.) But I can't remember why I was given the book. Maybe the school was going to get rid of books, so let kids take them.

In any case, I ended up with this book and read it throughout my childhood.

It's a picture book, but it also has a lot of words too. The page on the left has a lot of words, and the facing page has a bold, colorful illustration. Even now the colors are vivid.

The story is about triplet girls who bake a cake for their mom for her birthday.

What kind of names are Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka? I feel especially bad for poor little Dicka.

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The triplets want to bake a cake for their mother's birthday, but they go outside to play and the cake burns. The gals make a second cake and keep a good eye on it this time and are able to surprise their mother with a nice cake.

Really, I think these girls might be a bit young to be left in charge of an oven, especially as they are so easily distracted. But the message of trying again and getting it right is a good one.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were several Swedish authors in my elementary school library, and most were more interesting than Lindman's triplet girls Flicka Ricka Dicka and the triplet boys Snip Snap and Spur. And yet, there was something winsome about these identically dressed girls who often wound up in trouble, and this was the one I picked for my nieces when they were reprinted over ten years ago.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

forty years later, I could walk to the very shelf of my small town public library to find this book this book - what fun!

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's no sentiment for me and looks like a book from the fifties.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cute story of the three sisters baking their Mom a birthday cake.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. The illustrations remind me of the Dick and Jane books when I was a kid.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was on my childhood bookshelf passed down from my sisters. A cute story about sisters trying to bake a cake for their mother.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this Flicka, Ricka, Dicka book as a child. However, while this story was good, it was not as memorable to me.

[Maria]

Mdlzncjñd

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the girls set out to do a kind, thoughtful thing for their mother, but it doesn't go well the first time, so they try again!