Wintercake

Brimming with whimsy, this tale by Newbery Medalist Perkins (Criss Cross) introduces two pals who find a new friend when they set out to right a wrong. When chirpy bird Lucy visits bear-like Thomas, the earnest fellow is distressed (“bereft... forlorn”) that he has lost the basket of dried fruit he intended to use to bake a traditional confection (“A Winter’s Eve without wintercake. I ask you, what kind of holiday is that?”). Flying home in a blizzard, Lucy takes refuge in a bustling tearoom, where chatty animals comment on the inclement weather in diverting snippets of conversation—and she overhears one “tall, sleek” customer remark that he has found a basket of dried fruit, “perfect for wintercake.” Outraged, Lucy follows the “vile beast,” only to discover that he is returning the fruit to Thomas, who, relieved, suggests that he and the bird bake a wintercake, launching a heartwarming annual tradition. Perkins’s charmingly detailed, fanciful art and spontaneous narrative deliver an irrefutable message about the dangers of making snap judgments and the value of making amends—and friends. Ages 6–10. [em](Oct.) [/em]