Ruby and Leonard and the great big surprise by Judith Rossell

Little Hare Books, 2009 ISBN 9781921272967
(Ages 5-9) Ruby and Leonard, two mice who live with their brothers and sisters in a tin at the back of the cupboard in the kitchen, plan to make a batch of cupcakes for someone's birthday. The pages that follow outline the tasks they must do to make the cakes, each illustration showing the procedure in detail. The detail not only includes what each mouse must do, but the ingredients and the tools needed to make the cakes. Consequently, any reader, young or old, will be able to watch the cakes being made and see exactly how they are made. For a class making something for lunch, this book would make an excellent manual, for a class doing a procedural text, and wanting an example of on, this book is an excellent model, for a child reading the book alone, it would be fun for them to follow the details of what the mice do, and for a family to read at home, the book will encourage the family to cook together.
For me the surprise at the end is that they were all made, after so many slips and spills through the text, which will delight the younger reader. The last page gives the recipe which is one I'm sure many classes, children and families will want to try for themselves after reading this engaging picture book.

Fran Knight