Minal Sharma, MBA. Five foot ten twenty-nine-year-old with a hyperactive conscience and a ton of attitude. Minal wants it all-a successful career at International Foods, a lifestyle to match, and a 'totally cool' guy who'll buy her diamonds, bring her flowers, and laugh at her jokes. But given the unending record of her life's embarrassments, it's not going to be that simple. Especially when her mother has decided to take charge of the matrimonial front, and the choice Minal has to make is between a wild and sexy radio jockey and a brilliant but boring oncologist. And it doesn't help that her new colleague on a make-or-break 'Cakes' assignment is a nasty, grudge-bearing kid from her childhood who just might be out to sabotage her career. ( )

This is a fun story with good illustrations which my daughter enjoyed. However, I had grave concerns about the message which appears to be that it is impossible to live a healthy lifestyle (and that's boring anyway) so we might as well just eat badly and accept being fat. While I understand that people need to be able to accept themselves as they are and that people ought not to be mocked for being overweight, I don't think this book got that particular message across in an acceptable way. ( )

Genre: Fantasy
Age Appropriateness: Primary-Intermediate
Review: This book is a good example of fantasy because the elephants are personified and the storyline is believable but created away from reality. Mrs. Large leads her family on a mission to becoming fit and healthy. Each morning they would go on runs and come back to eat healthy snacks and meals. Their willpower remains strong until Granny sends a cake. They end up eating the cake and accepting the fact that they are supposed to be large, because they are elephants.
Media: This book is a good example of pencil media because the pictures vary in texture, shades, dimension, and blending. The use of colored pencils allow for a wide range of different lines and shading, which enhance the pictures. ( )

Genre: This is a good example of fantasy because it makes the idea of an elephant family trying to lose weight seem realistic. ( )