Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie

Audrey finds Lion. He has a balloon. It is not his birthday. It is not Audrey's birthday but they sing the birthday song anyway. On Tuesday Audrey finds Lion again. He has a delicious looking cake. Audrey asks about the celebration. Lion explains he is celebrating Tuesdays and also coconut. The friends sit down to enjoy a slice of cake (the icing is coconut - yum).

The story pattern continues. Lion is wearing a hat and celebrating orange and yellow and Audrey suggests they could add in purple. Then comes one powerful word:

"The next time Audrey found Lion, he didn't have a balloon or a cake. He wasn't wearing a hat. 'What are you celebrating?' said Audrey. 'Nothing,' sniffed Lion. Today is just an ordinary day." 

Sniffed!! - lion is sad. He looks sad in the illustration on the next page. BUT our Audrey is a problem solver. She creates the best celebration ever - a celebration of ordinary days and lions. 

The tone of this book feels a little like Winnie the Pooh's wisdom.

Just before this Walker book was released a friend sent me the title knowing I am a huge fan of cakes! With all the story elements which are perfect for preschoolers and perfect to read aloud features such as  patterns, an emotional arc, bright and lively illustrations, and a little girl who could be your friend, I just have to give this book five stars. I also like the look of the cake on the title page. 

I predict this book will reach the 2021 CBCA Notable list and Early Childhood short list - yes it is that good. Fingers crossed for Edwina Wyatt and Tamsin.  I did make this prediction back in 2016 about In the Evening and I was wrong - let's hope I don't jinx Sometimes Cake.

Make sure you look at all of the socks worn by Audrey. They are a good way to mark the passing of time but also they are intriguing. Audrey likes to wear odd socks that don't match just like many preschool aged children, but one sock is missing. I have searched high and low but I cannot find her red and white striped sock in the final scene. Can you?

Here are the author and illustrator web sites.

I would pair this book with these:

Where does Thursday Go?

The Secret Birthday by Rosemary Wells

I was delighted many years ago to meet little Yoko. Now I discover there are ten 'spin off' titles featuring Yoko and her classmates. In this book the main character is Nora. We met her first in Noisy Nora. 

Sadly the ten books from the series Yoko and Friends School Days are quite old and so they out of print but you might be lucky, as I was, and find one or two in a public or school library.

The dilemma in The Secret Birthday will be recognised by many children. Who do you invite to your birthday party?  Especially when you simply cannot ask everyone in the class. This issue has become quite serious at Yoko's school and so the topic of birthday parties is banned -  "no birthday talk at school" is the rule.

Nora's mum is keeping the birthday guest list a secret. She delivers the invitations and does not tell Nora who is coming. BUT this secret is just so distressing for Nora. She can't wait three days until her party she wants to know NOW just who is coming so Nora breaks the rule and the day before the party, while they are in the girls bathroom, she quietly asks her friend Yoko did she get an invite. Nora does not realise Grace has overheard this conversation. Word of who is and who is not coming to the party quickly spreads around the class.  Nora is miserable. She is a sensitive girl and all of the aggression and nasty comments about her birthday are really hurting her. The Franks even make up a teasing song on the bus.

Luckily, the next day, Nora has a conversation about her problem with bus driver Henry. Driving past the local hospital Nora has a brilliant idea. Kids in hospital have birthdays too. The hospital has a large cafeteria. Is there a way to invite everyone to the birthday party? 

The party foods link perfectly with the foods you may have seen in Yoko. Henry drives his bus on Saturday and picks up everyone:

"First he picked up Nora and her mother. They had birthday cakes.
Then he picked up Timothy. Timothy had fifteen bags of chips.
Claude was next. He had jelly beans.
Yoko's mother had made special sushi. 
Charles bought ice cream.
Fritz had chocolate sauce.
Doris lugged squeeze cheese and crackers.
The Franks' dad had cooked up a pot of franks and beans."

These are perfect little easy chapter or beginner books for a newly independent reader with the bonus of a very satisfying story and very sweet illustrations.  Here are some of the other titles in this series Yoko and Friends School Days: