The Cats and the Cake (I Like to Read) by Martha Hamilton

The Cats and the Cake (I Like to Read) Reviews

• 
  R.C.

  I read this on a lark while at work, mostly because it features cake—and what an odd lark it became. Two cats argue over a cake, endlessly saying "this is mine," and "no, this is mine," while looking strangely happy about it all. Understanding the use of repetitious phrasing within early lit, I won't gripe about how annoying that was; but I will say that the illustrations didn't actually convey an argument. Indeed, once the fox is introduced through a window, these cool cats appear to be sharing the cake. Anyways, this fox (who is pink--props for style) comes in and talks about how big the cake is, and how he needs to pare it down, and dances with it, and eats it, and then leaves while laughing in both upper and lowercase. Then the dog-chef comes out with an even bigger cake and the cats look very happy indeed. Is this implying that they will somehow steal this cake? That they have been rewarded? Perhaps. Regardless, the fox wasn't punished in any way, and I'm left wondering what this book is trying to impart. If it's the value of sharing, then the moral is hurt by illustrations suggesting that the cats’ scrap was in good fun, and that they actually did end up getting along. Regardless of moral, the fox is a failed plot line with seemingly no relevance to what the tale is trying to be whatsoever. Overall a uniquely bizarre foray that left much to be desired beyond the delicious portrayals of cake, which were, after all, what I came to see in the first place. A success in that regard, at least.
• 
  Becky

  First sentence: This is mine! No, this is mine!
  
  Premise/plot: Two cats argue over a cake. The cake being argued over--the cake in question--is subsequently eating by a fox who happens to be passing by and sees an opportunity. The cats are sad about the cake...until the baker (a dog) brings out another cake--a bigger cake.
  
  My thoughts: I will say this. It is simple. The vocabulary in this one seems to be about right for the audience. It is a level 'E' for those that are curious. I won't say it's worse than most 'E' readers that you'll come across in the classroom or the library. It's not. But it isn't the most amazing book you'll ever read either. Yes, it has cats...and cake. But neither 'save' the story and turn it into the most amazing early reader ever.
• 
  Tayler K

  What a weird story. (Cats fight over cake. First 8 pages is just "This is mine. No, this is mine." Fox eats cake chunk by chunk, tells cats they must thank him for "helping" end their fight.)
  
  Love the illustrations though, especially all the desserts on the endpapers.
• 
  Andréa

  Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
• 
  Pinky

  Fox eats the cake two cats are fighting over.
• 
  Syntha Green

  Fun - when 2 cats argue over a cake, fox will help them learn how to share, or will he?
• 
  Robin

  A mean, unsatisfying story. Skip it.
• 
  Carlee

  Szczudlak
• 
  Scarlett R

  Moral of the story is "Never give a fox your cake or they will eat it all" -Scarlett
  
  I didn't love the message in this, just felt like it was lacking
• 
  Roben

  Two cats discover the importance of sharing - the hard way. They find a cake and begin to argue over whose it is. A wily fox decides to "lend a helping hand" but will the cats get any cake? Don't quibble. It is much better to share.