The King Cake Baby Reviews

Listen to this lady laugh! Best review EVER!

Editorial Reviews

Children’s Literature – Enid Portnoy

Set in the colorful city of New Orleans, with delightful comic-style illustrations, this story is based on the favorite childhood tale “The Gingerbread Man.” Dawson uses Creole characters and familiar locations in New Orleans to introduce a repetitive story about a runaway baby figure that escapes from the prized King Cakes being baked in time for Mardi Gras celebrations. There is a fair amount of repetition as a chase begins to capture the baby character that escapes from a cake being baked in someone’s kitchen. Some French words and phrases are introduced as well. Readers will learn that the cake is considered special if you happen to be the lucky eater whose slice contains the object called a “baby.” Some folks believe the baby object will bring good fortune during the year you find it. King cakes are easily found in many bakeries in the city of New Orleans at Mardi Gras time and are always described as “delicious” and fun to eat. Smith’s large, cheerful color drawings are perfect for this book, that also includes a cake recipe. Reviewer: Enid Portnoy; Ages 7 to 10.

 
Summer fun with KING CAKE BABY!
By choustonon June 28, 2015 Verified Purchase
What a fun book for small children–a new twist to Gingerbread man!
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great pacing By John Bean on June 16, 2015 Verified Purchase
A fabulous read for all ages! Keila Dawson has written a very entertaining retake, on an old classic “The Gingerbread Man.” She uses rhythmic repetition, great pacing, and enough colorful illustrations to hold the attention of my 2 year old granddaughter. Lexie just loves it …especially when her dad from New Orleans reads it with that creole flair! Her favorite phrase in her own words are “can’t catch me King cake Baby!”
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Diverse Retelling of an Old Classic Is Pure Genius!!!! May 20, 2015
 
The Gingerbread Man you say? In New Orleans? Then it must be the King Cake Baby…and you’ll never catch him!
What a wonderful retelling of an old classic – giving it a New Orleans setting was pure genius. Kids will love the rhythmic refrain and the fabulous illustrations, I know I did. I highly recommend The King Cake Baby – it’s diversity is a breath of free air.Vivian Kirkfield
Author – Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking
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You can’t catch me…By Barb on May 11, 2015 Verified Purchase

This is a delightful new version of the classic gingerbread man tale. With big bold illustrations by Vernon Smith, the author, Keila V. Dawson takes the young reader on a trip through the culture of New Orleans as the King Cake Baby escapes the King Cake. With catchy repetition and rhythm and a bit of French, mon ami, we follow the little cake baby as he encounters an old man, a praline lady, a waiter, and a baker. Will he be caught? The book concludes with a recipe for making your own King Cake. What a delightful taste of New Orleans!

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A Little New Orleans Flavor  by A.J. Green on April 21, 2015

Great read with or without kids! Well done New Orleans flavored fun read!

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Great new take on a classic! By Christy Barnette on April 21, 2015  Verified Purchase

LOVED this!!! I bought three copies to give as gifts to friends from New Orleans who live out of town now. My kids really enjoyed the book and read it every night for weeks. There’s something really special about the illustrations inside. My favorite part is when the creole couple are decorating their home for Mardi Gras.

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Great Addition to a Runaway Story Unit By Rockergirl on April 12, 2015 Verified Purchase

Great runaway story. I could have used it with my gingerbread unit, but I saved it for Mardi Gras!

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Let the good times roll! By Gabo on April 1, 2015 Verified Purchase

Let the good times roll! Love this retelling of THE GINGERBREAD MAN, retold New Orleans style! Carefree, laissez-faire, bringing back my cherished memories of the New Orleans I visited often as a child. I can feel the easy smiles of the local characters and taste the beignets! Such fun to read to my granddaughter, and the illustrations are perfect! Rev Sue Ellen Hearn

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Wonderful picture book! By Diana on February 25, 2015

This delightful picture book gives the old gingerbread man story a New Orleans twist! This time the escapee is the tiny baby meant to be hidden in a king cake. (A delicious New Orleans tradition!) Lively language by author Keila Dawson and fun illustrations by Vernon Smith bring New Orleans to life and make this a story kids will love. Highly recommended! 

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Pamela Courtney By Amazon Customer on February 21, 2015

This story is such a fun, fun read. Through rhythmic pacing, repetitive phrases, and colorful characters, this laugh out loud adventure gives young readers a New Orleans French twist to the all time favorite, The Gingerbread Man. The author invites us into the New Orleans culture. Did I mention how fun this book is? The characters are funny, engaging, and there’s even a King Cake recipe in the book. After this story, my class wanted to know all about Louisiana. Where is it located on the map? Does everyone speak French? What a wonderful jumping off point to a great Social Studies classroom engagement.

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I LOVE THIS BOOK By Pamela on February 13, 2015

I really enjoyed reading this book to my 5 year old granddaughter. She loved it and wants me to read it over and over. She particularly likes the French phrases and she now says them aloud when we get to that part of the book. I also bought a few more for family, friends and my granddaughter’s pre k class in Atlanta. I am sure them will love it too.

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Brilliantly fun new take on a classic tale. By CK on Feb 11, 2015  Verified Purchase

LOVE this little book!! I bought one for myself and ended up purchasing more to share with friends young and old.
The author took the classic tale of The Gingerbread Man and turned it into a fun New Orleans culture filled adventure. Keila’s use of local phrases and landmarks makes this classic tale a relateable story to those who are familiar New Orleans and it’s culture while at the same time being a briliant introduction to the area for those looking for something new. The illustrations add even more fun bringing out the sassy personality fo the King Cake Baby as you turn each page. 

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LOVE THIS BOOK!!! By Joni G Goodman on February 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

I LOVE this book!!! With catchy phrasing, bright colorful pictures and the rich flavor of New Orleans. I purchased books for my nieces and nephews and each one of them also LOVE the book, not to mention their parents. Joni G G

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... long time for this picture book and it didn’t disappoint! 

By liana on February 9, 2015

I have waited a long time for this picture book and it didn’t disappoint!
Keila Dawson and Vernon Smith bring this little tale to life with authentic language and pictures associated with New Orleans.
This little king cake baby escapes on January 6th, the day of the Three Kings. But if you know New Orleans culture, you know that king cake is eaten throughout the year, especially during the Mardi Gras celebration leading up to Lent. So I imagine this little baby has been running for a very long time!
http://julianaleewriter.com/books-alive/d/the-king-cake-baby/ 

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I love this little book By Jennifer G. Morris on February 1, 2015

I love this little book! Keila Dawson creates a wonderfully funny retelling of a classic story that introduces children to the unique culture of the people of New Orleans. The colorful illustrations whimsically depict scenes and characters one would encounter in the French Quarter. I particularly enjoyed the cultural expressions (“getting” the baby, as opposed to catching the baby; cher, mon ami, etc.) which is so familiar to me, (my family is from New Orleans.) I think it’s a great resource for teachers to use to reinforce patterns and repetition with young children and to introduce the literary devices of personification and onomatopoeia. A “must-include” addition to any teacher’s repertoire of cultural variations of classic stories.

 

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