Description
Description
One teensy, tiny lie has a BIG impact in this picture book with an irresistible heroine and charming mixed-media illustrations. When a little girl finds a balloon, she figures it's her lucky day. Hooray! But the crowd around her assumes it's her birthday... Oops. The girl doesn't correct them, and the next thing she knows, they're expecting a party and a cake. It seems that one little lie can have big consequences. The group demands to know: How many layers? What kind of frosting? Will there be sprinkles? What's a girl to do?! It's hard to confess to a lie-especially when you didn't intend for it to go this far. She thinks about it... and thinks about it... and realizes that she knows just how to remedy the situation. It's time to make cupcakes. (With frosting!) A universally relatable topic comes to life with a light, kid friendly touch. Perfect for young readers who have been known to "embellish" their stories or let an assumption get carried away.
About the Author
About the Author
Judith Henderson cooks up a lot of stuff. She is an author, illustrator, an Emmy Award winning composer and children's TV producer; she also wrote the theme song for the PBS show Arthur. Her books for children include Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections Grandmothers Galore and Lion on the Inside, which received a starred review from School Library Journal. You can find her online at www.judebox.com.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
Morality tales often feel dour or weighty, but this one is relentlessly light. You can make mistakes, Henderson reminds readers, but you have the power to fix them. The whole book has a similarly airy feel, from the dazzling, midcentury art-inspired illustrations in a matte palette, with colorful bursts of amber, coral, and cerulean, to the frequent perspective changes that help readers empathize with the young protagonist. Smart touches, like the ants' droll dialogue and the funky, slightly off-kilter typeface, add to the quirkiness. Fresh, funny, and as sweet as vanilla buttercream frosting.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The lie of omission can be a difficult concept for young children, but Henderson approaches it with clarity and gentle humor. . . . Henderson skillfully captures the way small misunderstandings escalate, resolving the story in a reassuring, child-friendly way. The mixed-media illustrations amplify the rising excitement, with scattered bits of dialogue showing the ants' busy chatter.
--School Library Journal
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The lie of omission can be a difficult concept for young children, but Henderson approaches it with clarity and gentle humor. . . . Henderson skillfully captures the way small misunderstandings escalate, resolving the story in a reassuring, child-friendly way. The mixed-media illustrations amplify the rising excitement, with scattered bits of dialogue showing the ants' busy chatter.
--School Library Journal
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Holiday House
Pub date:
2026-05-26
Length:
40 pages
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