All Ella wants to do is help her mom in anyway at her family's bakery. But, Ella is just too small to do anything important. All she's allowed to do is sweep the floor, not anything important like helping take out macaroons from the oven or slicing a piece of pineapple pie for a customer. It's only when Mr Banjo, the delivery man, leaves a cake behind that Ella has a moment to shine and show her mom that she can be a big help.

This was a very cute book with illustrations that reminded me of The Adventures of Babar (Although, it could have been also been the fact that this book's characters are elephants). This husband and wife team worked really well together to create a story and characters that were both really fun to read about. I enjoyed the illustrations particularly. I just thought they were so cute and they are still enticing me to draw Ella riding her cart filled with cake.

Ella has one main obstacle she has to confront. You would think it would be her being too small but really it's two words: Belinda Blue. Belinda Blue is a very inconsiderate, pushy elephant who doesn't take no for an answer. She puts Ella in positions that have her compromising the arrival of her cake delivery. I think Belinda brings up a great conversation for parents to talk to their kids about bullies or people who only think of themselves. It would have been nice to see Ella tell Belinda how she feels about her actions but maybe in another one of Ella's books.

I noticed Ella only seems to have one parent. I haven't read any other books about her so I don't know if it is true. If Ella has a single parent I think that's really inspiring and shows diversity in the way families can be different from one another. Her mom being a single parent and a business owner? I loved that about this book.

I would recommend reading Ella Takes the Cake. It was a very cute book that is a conversation starter. I would also recommend reading Ella's first book, Ella the Elegant Elephant, before this one since there was reference to Ella's lucky hat and of course so you can understand the basics of Ella's life in Little Village. ( )

Ella, the little elephant whose adventures as the new kid in town (and at school) were chronicled in Ella the Elegant Elephant, returns in this second story, which sees her anxious to help out at her mother's bakery. Denied the opportunity at first, because her mother considers her too young to work near the stove (she might be burned!) or use a cake-knife (it's so sharp!), Ella eventually gets her chance when the deliveryman forgets an important cake intended for Captain Kernel, out at his lighthouse. Jumping into her bike-driven cart, Ella volunteers to deliver the beautiful confection. She doesn't count on domineering Belinda however, who jumps into the cart and demands a ride! Will Ella get to the lighthouse in time, and (most importantly) will the cake be intact when she does...?

Like its predecessor, Ella Takes the Cake is a cute book, with an engaging heroine and adorable illustrations. Young readers who have themselves been frustrated by their parents prohibitions on certain activities, because they are too young, and might hurt themselves (and that's probably most young readers!), will identify with Ella's feelings, and cheer her on, as she sets out on her quest. It's nice to see a children's book characters who is so eager to help out - which isn't to say they don't exist, of course! - and who persists, even when it requires quite a bit of effort. All in all, a sweet little book, one that I recommend to young readers who enjoyed any of the other Ella books, or who like animal stories. ( )

This book is about an elephant who wishes she could help out more in the bakery her parents own. She sweeps the floor three times a day, but it never seems like she is being helpful. She tried to help her mother, but some of the jobs were just too dangerous for her. One day someone forgot to pick up a cake from the shop, so she decided to help deliver it on her bike. Along the way she helps the other elephants she meets, while she tries to make her delivery on time. The main character in this story can be a great inspiration for younger students, by showing how important it is to help others; as well as seeing things through to the end. ( )