Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dragon learns to make cake with turnip fairy in fun sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Beatrice the baker lets Ember, a tiny dragon, bake bread for her shop, Bea's Bakery. She calls him a "natural," since he learned the skill so quickly. So when, in THE BAKERY DRAGON AND THE FAIRY CAKE, Princess Turnip of the vegetable fairies asks him to bake a birthday cake for the fairy queen, he thinks he can handle it. But he's never made a birthday cake before (only bread), and he makes a lot of of funny mistakes trying to follow Princess Turnip's descriptions of one. "Maybe he wasn't a natural baker after all." Then Princess Turnip takes him to the library to look up a recipe in book, and he returns to the bakery and succeeds. In fact, he makes so many cakes Bea's Bakery starts selling them.
Is It Any Good?
This cute tale of a bakery dragon expanding his skill set is a lesson in trying over an over to get something right. The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake builds on the charming lead character's appeal in The Bakery Dragon. Not only is he a "natural," he can also learn from following recipes. The relationship between him and Princess Turnip is sweet and supportive as well. So the story is about teamwork, not just one individual's exceptional talent. And as with Book 1, Devin Elle Kurtz's digital illustrations capture every emotion and all of the plot's ups and downs brilliantly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the challenge Ember faces in The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake. What's it like to try something you've never done? What new thing have you tried, and how did it go?
Ember needs a repipe for his cake, so he goes to the library to find one in a book. Do you sometimes go to the library? What have you looked for there?
Ember makes a lot of mistakes in his first few attempts to make a birthday cake. But he keeps trying and finally gets there. Why is perseverance important?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Devin Elle Kurtz
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Baking , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Alfred A. Knopf
- Publication date : October 7, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 27, 2025
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