Bake a Cake Book

Budding pastry chefs (and pastry tasters) will easily see their way to a yummy confection by turning the pages of Meijer's clever concoction. Three tiny, toque-wearing cooks serve as guides through this spiral-bound, practically wordless book, in which acetate overlays help to illustrate the various steps toward the finished product--a fresh-from-the-oven, extravagantly adorned creation. The overlays--sometimes used singly, sometimes several per paper page--not only add visual appeal but quickly explicate the process. An empty bowl on one page, for example, is next shown filled with eggs and sugar (first overlay); a cook, from his ladder perched at bowl's rim, whisks the ingredients together (second overlay); and a second helper spoons in the remaining ingredients (third overlay). While youngsters will require adult supervision to try out the simple recipe (found inside the back cover), this singular book offers the satisfaction of taking a creative project from start to (mouth watering) finish. Ages 3-8. (June)