Delicious looking images of sweets fill the end
pages that trumpet the pleasures contained in this delightful and sweet book.
Integrated with the baking, is the loving relationship between a child and his Gran, and a sense of joy.
Harry and Gran love being together.
On this special
day, they plan to bake. Out comes the recipe book.
Difficult choices are
made.
Chocolate, of course!
Harry’s favourite.
First, they must assemble all
the ingredients.
This is not a quick or easy task.
Gran trips over the cat while carrying the eggs.
Then she can’t find her glasses.
The air around them becomes a cloud of flour dust.
Gran recalls to Harry, that in the olden days, everything was
mixed by hand.
Then, they
warm the oven.
But that’s not the best part.
Harry gets to lick the spatula and then helps Gran
clean the bowl with a lot of finger licking, and sighs of contentment.
It’s clean-up time, followed by a rest, until
the ping of the timer is heard.
This is a tender view of the love and togetherness
shared by the young and an older family member during a simple task. It also reflects the learning that occurs by both age groups.
It is Fiona McIntosh’s debut children’s picture
book. Sara Acton’s exquisite minimal-lined, colour illustrations, perfectly
complement the equally minimal but expressive text.
The book is filled with light created by space,
which reflects the lightness of the characters’ mood throughout.
Title: Harry and Gran Bake a Cake
Author: Fiona McIntosh
Illustrator: Sara Acton
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $19.99
Publication Date: 18 March 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 97817614346941
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
