Marigold Bakes a Cake

It’s Monday, and that means a no-interruptions baking day for Marigold, a persnickety marmalade cat. He sets his sights on making a cake “that was absolutely fur-shreddingly fabulous,” but his plans are thwarted by the arrival of several birds—first a finch and, eventually, a gang of loons. The birds wear tiny chef’s toques, and though they don’t speak a word, their beady eyes and eager beaks make it clear that they want in on the action. Will it be The Great British Baking Show or Tweety vs. Sylvester? Debut talent Malbrough celebrates the act of culinary creation and the joy of being absorbed in a personal passion—and, like the best desserts, he doesn’t let his story get too sweet. In one of many lovely watercolor spreads, Marigold blends glossy curls of shaved chocolate and a ribbon of molasses into the batter; in another, he studies the instructions for fondant, one paw perched on his chin, the other absentmindedly scratching his head. Doing what one loves, Malbrough shows, makes it possible to transcend even the basest instincts—such as eating one’s visitors. Ages 3–7. [em]Agent: Lori Kilkelly, Rodeen Literary Management. (July) [/em]