*Dudley Bakes a Cake by Judy Taylor (1988) is my favorite kind of story. The illustrations are wonderful. They complement the text with content and humor. Is this why Peter Cross appears above the author’s name—and in a larger font? The insides of the front and back covers are illustrated with moments from the story. Several pictures are framed with a decorative border.
Dudley is a dormouse who wakes up one day to the exciting prospect of attending the Shadyhanger Fair. When he learns that the winner of a cake contest will win a bicycle, he must enter. “Dudley wanted that bike very badly and although he had never made a cake in his life, he was certainly going to make one today.” I fell in love with this character instantly. He doesn’t have all the ingredients necessary, but this doesn’t stop him. Extra baking powder causes his cake to rise beyond the confines of his oven and “with an enormous bang, the oven burst apart”.
Of course, Dudley wins the bike, but the visual journey is hilarious.
