Kate Mildenhall (text) and Jess Racklyeft (illustrator), To Stir with Love, Simon and Shuster, October 2024, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk) ISBN 9781761426391
To Stir with Love is a 2025 Early Childhood CBCA Notable about the bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter as they bake Grandma’s everything cake — a cherished recipe passed down through the generations. This special cake has been a source of comfort in difficult times and a centrepiece of celebrations.
Acclaimed author, Mildenhall, known for her adult fiction, skillfully transitions to the picture book format. She captures the satisfaction and creativity of mixing delicious ingredients into a tasty homemade cake, while portraying the warm interactions between grandparent and child. The granddaughter describes how she cares for her grandma, while Grandma, in turn, patiently teaches her the art of baking.
Award-winning illustrator, Jess Racklyeft, enhances the story with colourful, expressive illustrations. Her artwork beautifully depicts the affectionate interactions between the child and grandmother as they busily make the cake together. I especially love the pages with misty, softly coloured backgrounds and scattered dreamlike floating objects, evoking the magic of lovingly transforming ingredients into a tasty treat. Background family photos, depicting clothing styles of various eras, further develop the theme of family togetherness and intergenerational continuity.
An extra bonus of this book is the actual cake recipe at the back, which I am eager to try.
To Stir with Love is a heartwarming picture book and a celebration of the pleasure of cake baking. It is perfect for 4- to 7-year-olds who love to bake.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
