Easy as Pie

by Cari Best, Melissa Sweet

Jacob learned the rules of baking from watching Chef Monty on TV, and now he is ready to make his own peach pie in his Easy-On Oven. Even when things get messy and Jacob's parents say there is no more time for baking, he is determined to see his pie through to the end. Cari Best's tasty text and Melissa Sweet's scrumptious collage illustrations combine to make a picture book as satisfying as a perfect slice of pie.

Genres: Picture Books, Cooking, Childrens, Family, Food

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2010

About the author

Cari Best has written many award-winning picture books, including Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and My Three Best Friends and Me, described by the New York Times as “refreshing” and “exciting.” Her most recent picture book is If I Could Drive, Mama, was described by Publishers Weekly as “a wonderful tribute to an imagination in perpetual motion.” In the Country of Queens is her first novel. Ms. Best lives in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I won this book through goodreads.

This is the story about Jacob, who learns how to bake a pie from his favorite chef, Chef Monty. This is a good children's story that has it's focus on 1. following the rules/directions 2. not giving up, even when things don't go quite as planned and 3. being patient. It's a nice story, great for kids and even has a nice peach pie recipie on the back for the kids to help out with.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella loved this one. Kid makes a pie, following good baking/life rules from his favorite cooking show. I love the life lessons and discussion of pie, but not so much that he keeps telling his parents he's almost ready to go ... as he starts making and baking a pie.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had kind of an odd plot when you add in that the family was supposed to be leaving for the parents' anniversary dinner. But a little boy is baking his first ever pie and repeating the mantras of his favorite chef.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob’s favorite TV show is Baking with Chef Monty, so when Jacob sets out to bake his first pie, he knows all of Chef Monty’s rules by heart. He knows that: a happy baker makes a happy pie. He finds all of his ingredients in the kitchen and sets to work. When his sister Charlotte comes to get him ready to go out for dinner and celebrate their parents’ anniversary, Jacob makes sure he keeps working because one of the rules is: Concentrate on what you’re doing – no matter what. He rolls out the dough, fixing his mistakes like Chef Monty advises. He flutes the edges of the pie and pricks holes in the top crust, slightly larger than Chef Monty would have recommended. Soon the pie is in the oven, though his family is getting tired of waiting for Jacob to be ready to go. But there is one solution to that! Dessert first!

So many children’s books about cooking have the child making a horrible mess, combining strange and unappetizing ingredients together, all resulting in an inedible creation. This turns that formula on its head with a child who is confident and capable, creating a pie that makes the parents’ anniversary even more special.

Best’s writing is a pleasure to read aloud with the sprinkling of Chef Monty quotes throughout, great asides of noises, and plenty of action. Sweet’s art is light-hearted and funny, filled with peach-colored splashes and funny touches like the titles of the books on the shelves. The writing and text go together like ice cream and warm pie.

A great read aloud for any classroom starting a cooking project or any story time where food will be featured. Guaranteed to be a favorite around Thanksgiving too. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob is baking a peach pie for his parents' anniversary. Though the storyline is a bit unrealistic -- Jacob bakes the pie while his family is waiting, he uses an Easy-On Oven, he makes a delicious pie by himself -- the messages are positive and age-appropriate. I like that Jacob works by himself, uses what he has learned, and creates a pie that he is proud of.

Recommended as a read aloud for preschool through grade 2. Different kids will get different messages from the story, but all kids should appreciate Jacob's work and Cari Best's lessons on creating something wonderful.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book teaches good character lessons like to accept help, and leave your kitchen the way you found it (oh-so guilty of not cleaning after I cook!) , and that a happy baker makes a happy pie, and that a pie is not ready one second before it's ready (patience, in other words) not much of a storyline besides the kid cooking and hoping his parents don't leave without him or get grouchy that he is not ready to go.

[Sandybear76]

I wanted a piece of pie after I read this story. A little boy watches a chef prepare a pie and the boy makes one too, using his own Easy Bake oven. I could smell the peach pie baking and I could hear his older sister yelling at him to hurry for dinner with their mom and dad on their specila evening.

[Taylar Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The book lists some rules about being a good baker. The rules also made me think of some rules in life in a strange way. This would be a good book for 3rd grade and up in my opinion. This would be a good book for students to read in the classroom. It's a very cute story that i think they would enjoy and put into perspective if they're home baking.

[Lam Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read to students about baking. It talks about a little boy who is determined to bake a pie. In the book, there are songs to sing along and at the end it tells you the recipe for maing peach pie. Very cute book.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for kids with a recipe for pie, what else could make a Dad who's a foodie and a booknerd happier?

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

How do you write a book about baking a pie and not give a recipe?
Not that I'd try it anyway, I bake everything BUT pie.

[Leslie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book. 2010. Humours book about the issues around cooking a pie.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaches good habits to follow.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an avid baker, I really wanted to love this book, but the story wasn't very compelling and it felt predictable. The illustrations were cheerful and fun to look at, though.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Cari Best and this one is fun!