C Is for Cupcake

by Carolyn Haywood

Adventures of Christie, her rabbit, Cupcake, and other members of her first grade class.

Genres: Childrens, Literature

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Carolyn Haywood was an American writer and illustrator of children’s books, best known for her beloved “Eddie” and “Betsy” series, which captured everyday childhood with warmth and authenticity. Raised in a supportive, middle-class Philadelphia family, she developed her artistic talents early, studying art and later working as a teacher, an experience that inspired her to write for young readers. After formal training in fine arts and travel in Europe, she worked on murals before turning fully to books. Her debut, “B” is for Betsy, appeared in 1939, launching a prolific career built on close observation of children’s lives and feelings, continuing for decades.

Reviews

[Cheryl]

3.5 stars -- #20 in the 2026 Search & Purge, this book will be discarded because of its condition. I do not need to consider anything else. Because this had not been checked out in a while, I was unaware of what a child did a while ago: "________ _________ was here 10-4-96." Multiple pages have black ink drawings. (The rabbit needed a mustache?? Sure! Why not?) Even if it did not have condition issues, this story does not have the charm of Haywood's earlier Betsy series. There are also many comments about fat Chuckie, and I was not crazy about an incident with a dog in the classroom. I am fine with bidding this title farewell.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Boy, Chuckie is a real bastard!

[Andrea]

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I was ecstatic to have found a copy on Amazon so I could read it again. I think Mrs. Wilkins must be the most patient teacher in all of literature.

[Gina]

This is the story of some really cute first graders. Christie decides that she wants to bring her rabit Cupcape to school. Surprisingly, her teacher says yes/ Each chapter of the book is about a different incident that happens mostly to Christy, who seems to be the leader of the first grade. There's a bully in the class, who's ,kind of irritating, but he does do a couple nice things throughout the story.
Christy is a quite nice spunky little girl, and while she gets in to her share of trouble, i do like her character.
I do feel like these kids talk a bit too maturely fir their ages, but I won't complain about that one bit.
If I had kids, I'd read this to my child.

[Andrea]

I have been looking for these books everywhere and I am so glad to have finally found them! While my friends in elementary school were always checking out the more "popular" books in the library, I found myself coming back to this series again and again. I'm pretty sure I read every book in the series at least twice! I'm a little perturbed to discover that they've been re-released with a more modern cover, because I actually prefer the vintage look. Brings back so many memories and should I stumble across these somewhere, I may just have to read them again!

[Geri Mariano]

One of the very first books I remember reading and loving on my own when in Elementary School. The title and story has stayed with my all these years. I found an old copy on Amazon several months ago and gave it to a dear young girl. I don't have kids of my own and I miss not being able to share books I loved growing up with children.

[Michelle]

Something reminded me of this book today for some reason and I decided to see if I could find it on Goodreads! I think I may have read this in grade school sometime, but definitely remember picking it up in the 7th grade (more for nostalgia's sake) so I was definitely much older than the targeted demographic, but I loved it anyway -- I thought it was really cute.

[hhertzof]

Not one of her best and loses points for really bad bunny parenting, even if it is all about a rabbit.

[Maureen]

read with my 1st grade daughter. Extremely old fashioned and sexist but with the time period when everyone was. My daughter really enjoyed this book!

[Kate]

The first novel/chapter book I ever read.

[Robyn Stoller]

favorite childhood book