A Piece of Cake (Large Family) (ISBN 184428526X)

Roxie's Review:
When Mama Elephant put the family on a diet, their will power remains strong until Grammy sends a cake. With the jogging before breakfast and the jogging after school there isn't much time to think about food, the Elephant family is sure to lose weight, right? Wrong! Maybe Elephants are meant to be fat! The illustrations are very good. Each has terrific deatail and facial expression. A warning is due for this book however because of the focus on weight loss. I'm not so sure the book goes about the issue as sensitively as it should. The first words of the text are "I'm Fat." Although Mama stresses the Elephant family should "get fit," not lose weight, the focus is still on being fat. Knowing the damage being called fat can cause, this book should be read in an educated manner if you choose to read it to your child. After reading it, try to have a short discussion of the healthy foods the Elephant family could eat instead of cake.

Roxie's Review:
When Mama Elephant put the family on a diet, their will power remains strong until Grammy sends a cake. With the jogging before breakfast and the jogging after school there isn't much time to think about food, the Elephant family is sure to lose weight, right? Wrong! Maybe Elephants are meant to be fat! The illustrations are very good. Each has terrific deatail and facial expression. A warning is due for this book however because of the focus on weight loss. I'm not so sure the book goes about the issue as sensitively as it should. The first words of the text are "I'm Fat." Although Mama stresses the Elephant family should "get fit," not lose weight, the focus is still on being fat. Knowing the damage being called fat can cause, this book should be read in an educated manner if you choose to read it to your child. After reading it, try to have a short discussion of the healthy foods the Elephant family could eat instead of cake.

Brilliant:
An excellent book, both for reading to children and for new readers to read themselves. The antics of the Large Family will have you in stitches!

Great Read:
I was studying Jill murphy for an English project - she is a very skilled writer and i remember the books myself from a young age - re reading it I couldn't help but smile, its a classic childrens tale one i would recomend to anyone, parent and big-kid alike.

Delightfully funny:
This book is delightfully funny, both with the text and the pictures. The mother is described at one point by the baby as having wobbly bits. The only down side with this book is that it sort of sends a mixed message regarding weight. They do all the right things and don't lose weight. The Fats end up deciding elephants are meant to be fat. Confusing. Overall though, the story and the pictures make up for this mixed message.