Starred review from November 25, 2024
Readers’ first glimpse of the eponymous protagonist brims with comedic promise—Blake’s mouth lolls open in deep sleep, a teddy bear nestled in one crook of the
character’s long green body. Then Blake wakes with a start. There’s “lots at stake” as the snake tries—and tries—to achieve a culinary goal: whipping up a birthday cake for a friend’s party. The title serves as a refrain, and rhyming text leans way into the -ake sound throughout the project’s iterations. For each cake, something goes wrong with the baking process (a “mistake” around a toppled mixing bowl, an “EARTHQUAKE!” that rattles the entire kitchen) or the transport (a rake hits Blake in the face outside the front door; a cake falls into a lake). While married collaborators the Youngs (Mustache Duckstache) lean into heartache for poor Blake, the mayhem does have an upside: each time the snake starts over, readers get to view an elaborately executed new cake concept. By the time a triumphant Blake arrives at pal Drake’s party, the dessert is a flower-festooned affair worthy of The Great British Bake Off. Digital watercolors take the cake with their high-energy slapstick in a laugh-out-loud story that remains sympathetic to its resilient protagonist. Ages 3–5.
December 1, 2024
A paean to perseverance, featuring almost every word one can make with the phoneme -ake. Big-eyed Blake the snake holds readers' attention--and much more. Using the many muscular coils on his exceptionally long body, he's adept at flicking light switches, cracking eggs, and beating batter--except when he's not, and everything crashes to the floor. But no matter: "Let's try that again!" And again and again. The outcome may be frustrating, but Blake isn't deterred. As he meticulously pipes the wordhappy on another cake, an "EARTHQUAKE!" knocks everything over. Never mind! The next illustration sees Blake peering into the oven to see a beautifully rising confection. But as Blake attempts to deliver the cake ("Snakes can skate?!"), an unexpected encounter with a family of ducks ("BRAKE! BRAKE!") leads to disaster. Blake prepares other cakes that also meet with disaster, thanks to an ill-placed "rake" and a tumble into the "lake." Yes, these mishaps bring "heartache," but readers will giggle as Blake, looking a mite peeved but mostly determined, doggedly produces yet another iteration. Finally an unscathed masterpiece survives, and Blake is able to celebrate his friend Drake's birthday. The tale ends with Blake considering other career options: director ("Let's try another take!"), cook ("Mastering the best milkshake!"), and stand-up comic ("Laugh with Blake till your belly aches!"). Digital watercolors give Blake attractive, detailed human surroundings (like the baking bowls piling up in the sink) and easily readable emotions thanks to his wildly expressive eyebrows. Fortitude and phonics make failure wildly funny.(Picture book. 3-5)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 1, 2025
Preschool-Kindergarten In this rhyming picture book, all poor Blake the Snake wants to do is bake a birthday cake for his friend Drake. The cake needs to be ready for Drake's afternoon party, but disaster strikes at every turn. First, the cake burns in the oven, then an earthquake destroys the finished cake. But Blake will not be discouraged! He makes another but struggles to get the cake (and the next, and the next) to the party. Blake collides with a family of ducks, crashes into a lake, and has a mishap with a rake. Young ratchets up the humor with each catastrophe, playing up Blake's mounting frustration and exhaustion. Interestingly, the more cakes Blake bakes, the better he becomes, creating unique, beautiful designs. The digital watercolor illustrations with a desaturated color palette allow the eye to focus on Blake's humorous facial expression. With its repetitive, rhyming words and the refrain, "Blake the snake bakes a cake," this charismatic book about perseverance will be a hit with children learning to read and the read-aloud crowd.
COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.