When an ingenious chemist indulges his wife’s sweet tooth, he changes the face of baking forever in this charming story of science—and true love.
Elizabeth Bird is allergic to cake. In truth, she’s allergic to yeast and eggs, and there is no cake without yeast or eggs in 1843 Victorian England. But the love of Elizabeth’s life—her husband, Alfred, who happens to be a chemist—doesn't want her to keep missing out on parties and treats, so he turns to science for a solution. Through a trial-and-error labor of love—and countless bubbly messes—Alfred finally invents a simple substitute that will enrich his wife’s life and lead to light and fluffy cakes for all: baking powder! Sweetened with expressive illustrations and a generous dusting of backmatter, this playful narrative advocates for hands-on science while spotlighting kitchen chemistry, the widespread uses of baking powder, the history of food allergies, and the many ways in which important inventions or accommodations for people with disabilities benefit whole societies.
Jenny Lacika is the author of Measuring Up: How Oliver Smoot Became a Standard Unit of Measurement, illustrated by Anna Bron; Take Pride in the Ride, illustrated by Nanibah Chacon; Again, Essie?, illustrated by Teresa Martínez; and several other picture books. She is the recipient of a NESCBWI Windows & Mirrors Scholarship and a SCBWI Meg Medina Volemos Grant. As a Chicana writer, MIT grad, and chronically ill mother of two, Jenny Lacika often explores STEAM themes, disability and accessibility, and Chicanx culture and history in her work. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Fanny Liem is the illustrator of Tricky Chopsticks by Sylvia Chen; More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard; and Always with You, Always with Me by Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay. A fan of movies and country music, Fanny Liem lives in Indonesia.
When an ingenious chemist indulges his wife’s sweet tooth, he changes the face of baking forever in this charming story of science—and true love.
Elizabeth Bird is allergic to cake. In truth, she’s allergic to yeast and eggs, and there is no cake without yeast or eggs in 1843 Victorian England. But the love of Elizabeth’s life—her husband, Alfred, who happens to be a chemist—doesn't want her to keep missing out on parties and treats, so he turns to science for a solution. Through a trial-and-error labor of love—and countless bubbly messes—Alfred finally invents a simple substitute that will enrich his wife’s life and lead to light and fluffy cakes for all: baking powder! Sweetened with expressive illustrations and a generous dusting of backmatter, this playful narrative advocates for hands-on science while spotlighting kitchen chemistry, the widespread uses of baking powder, the history of food allergies, and the many ways in which important inventions or accommodations for people with disabilities benefit whole societies.
Creators
Jenny Lacika is the author of Measuring Up: How Oliver Smoot Became a Standard Unit of Measurement, illustrated by Anna Bron; Take Pride in the Ride, illustrated by Nanibah Chacon; Again, Essie?, illustrated by Teresa Martínez; and several other picture books. She is the recipient of a NESCBWI Windows & Mirrors Scholarship and a SCBWI Meg Medina Volemos Grant. As a Chicana writer, MIT grad, and chronically ill mother of two, Jenny Lacika often explores STEAM themes, disability and accessibility, and Chicanx culture and history in her work. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Fanny Liem is the illustrator of Tricky Chopsticks by Sylvia Chen; More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard; and Always with You, Always with Me by Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay. A fan of movies and country music, Fanny Liem lives in Indonesia.
