Contests: Booktalk 1

[Show cover.] I had to read this, because I'd live off just cupcakes and baked goods if I could. Isabel's family just bought a laundromat, and they are planning to turn it into a cupcake shop called, "It's Raining Cupcakes." Both Isabel and her mom make killer cupcakes, and they're always inventing new types of cupcakes, like Hawaiian sky cupcakes, or something equally cool. On her own, Isabel comes up with a pretty unique recipe to enter into a special contest called a bake-off, where the finalists travel to New York City to compete against each other. But beyond the contest, Isabel is pretty worried about her mom, who won't travel anywhere and who has a lot of fears and doubts and insecurities. Usually it's your mom who encourages you, right? Not in this case. Isabel has to walk on eggshells around her mom, who often seems sad and down. So if Isabel does place in the bake-off, what's going to happen? And will they be able to keep the shop running if her mom falls apart? It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder.

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder. 2010: Aladdin/Simon and Schuster. 193 p. Booktalk to intermediate grades and to middle school.