CAKE, LEMONADE, AND SPRINKLES
by Aishah Hight ; illustrated by Whimsical Designs by CJ
A birthday girl learns to embrace her own personality in Hight’s picture book.
London is having a costume party for her birthday. All of her guests are very excited, but as they chatter about their outfits on the school bus, London is plagued by doubt. She can’t decide if she wants to be a ballerina or a birthday princess, which she thinks her mom would like. By the time she gets home, London is so visibly upset that her mother asks her if she’s sick. When she finds out what’s actually wrong, London’s mom provides her daughter with some invaluable advice: “You, my love, are one of a kind. Like a star in the sky, you’re a unique design. Your costume can be a celebration of you and your love of technology and science too.” Spurred on by this parental support, London leaps at the chance to become an astronaut for her birthday. This brief narrative effectively teaches young readers about the importance of being themselves. The story is sparse on character development—why is London so indecisive in the first place?—and has a somewhat abrupt ending. The lively illustrations (credited to “Whimsical Designs by CJ”) are full of color and are charmingly exuberant—much like London herself, who is portrayed as having light brown skin and purple afro puffs.
A slight but positive story celebrating individuality.