Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity

PreS-Gr 2—Madame Croissant, a famous French pastry maker, creates her own bakery, Cupcakes à Go-Go, in this sequel to Merci Mister Dash (Tundra, 2011). With the help of her faithful and charismatic canine, Mister Dash, and energetic granddaughter, Daphne, she bakes and delivers her delicious and delightful cupcakes. Kulling's playful use of words ("clouds of flour" and "open boxes of chocolate and banana chips fly like sparks from a fire") add a poetic touch to the story. The cupcake orders pour in, including one for the mayor's party, and it's a huge endeavor to make sure that all the scrumptious treats arrive in one piece and on time. A few French words are scattered throughout, without providing a reference to the English translation. This could possibly confuse both readers and listeners and break the fluidity of a storytime reading. Although playful and quaint, some irrelevant text makes the story too wordy. Bright, acrylic Illustrations provide an enjoyable accompaniment to the story, particularly Mr. Dash's appealing expressions. An additional purchase.—Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJ