Review of Baked with Love

Thanks to Edelweiss and Candlewick Press/Holiday House/Peachtree for a sneak peek at Baked with Love, which won't be released until Jan. 5, 2027. But you can pre-order. This hardcover picture book ($19.99) is recommended for ages 5 to 8/grades K to 3.

More about Baked with Love: How Food Allergies Led to the Invention of Baking Powder

Elizabeth Bird is allergic to cake. In truth, she’s allergic to yeast and eggs, and there is no cake without yeast or eggs in 1843 Victorian England. But the love of Elizabeth’s life—her husband, Alfred, who happens to be a chemist—doesn't want her to keep missing out on parties and treats, so he turns to science for a solution. Through a trial-and-error labor of love—and countless bubbly messes—Alfred finally invents a simple substitute that will enrich his wife’s life and lead to light and fluffy cakes for all: baking powder! Sweetened with expressive illustrations and a generous dusting of backmatter, this playful narrative advocates for hands-on science while spotlighting kitchen chemistry, the widespread uses of baking powder, the history of food allergies, and the many ways in which important inventions or accommodations for people with disabilities benefit whole societies.

More about author Jenny Lacika

Jenny Lacika is the author of Measuring Up: How Oliver Smoot Became a Standard Unit of Measurement, illustrated by Anna Bron; Take Pride in the Ride, illustrated by Nanibah Chacon; Again, Essie?, illustrated by Teresa Martínez; and several other picture books. She is the recipient of a NESCBWI Windows & Mirrors Scholarship and a SCBWI Meg Medina Volemos Grant. As a Chicana writer, MIT grad, and chronically ill mother of two, Jenny Lacika often explores STEAM themes, disability and accessibility, and Chicanx culture and history in her work. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

More about illustrator Fanny Liem

Fanny Liem is the illustrator of Tricky Chopsticks by Sylvia Chen; More Than Peach by Bellen Woodard; and Always with You, Always with Me by Kelly Rowland and Jessica McKay. A fan of movies and country music, Fanny Liem lives in Indonesia.

Thoughts about Baked with Love

I chose to read this book because, in addition to being a reader and writer, I'm also an avid baker. Truthfully, baking soda never seemed like something that had to be invented. It just always seemed to be there. So I wanted to know more.

Yes, I know that aren't many young kids (or adults, for that matter) sitting around wondering how baking soda came into being. So this book isn't for those quirky few. This book is for kids living with food allergies of all kinds. This is also for kids who like learning about inventors. Don't forget the baked goods lovers (whether they're eating or baking) and the budding scientists.

Basically this is a story of a husband doing something out of love for his wife; a wife who happened to love pastries but can't eat them because of allergies. When reading this book with the young reader in your life it can be many things. A story of love. A story of the history of living in the 1800s. A story of baking. A story of invention. A story of science. A story of overcoming challenges. A story of business success. That's a lot packed into 40 pages. The muted colored illustrations match the time period (Victorian 1800s) and manage to be both elegant and at times, funny. There is also a fun (but easy) science experiment included as well as more detailed history of baking powder inventor Alfred Bird and his other inventions. To appreciate the science behind the story, I feel this book skews toward the older end of the recommended age group. With the added science experiment, this book could be a valuable addition to the classroom setting.