Okay, we all know there is no such thing as ghosts. Well, my children do too and NO, I’m not filling their heads with scary thoughts and the occult. That said, the The Bake Shop Ghost is an enjoyable, wish I could taste all of the food story. The selection of the day is baked goods. I wonder if that is why I too like this book.

Cora Lee Merriweather has a “lemon-pucker” mouth (I love saying that. You try it.), but bakes the best tasting pies, tarts, strudels, and my favorite, cakes. Upon her death, tears roll, but only once people realize that with the death of Cora Lee comes the closing of her infamous bake shop. There are no more pies, tarts, strudels or cakes. That would make me cry too.

Many bakers step in with wonderful dreams of making Cora Lee’s old bake shop their own, but they meet a strong resistance from the same. It is not until a young, determined pastry chef named Annie Washington purchases the bake shop, that Cora Lee meets her match. Annie is not easily scared away as were the other bakers and she is here to stay. Before she can make the bake shop her own, she has to make Cora Lee a “cake so rich and so sweet, it will fill her up and bring tears to her eyes.”

Night after night Annie bakes and Cora Lee tastes. If you are wondering if Annie is able to bake the perfect cake to claim the bake shop as her own, then you have to read the book to learn the answer. We have read this book over and over again. This is one we should buy because it has been on our library list for several months. Also, I could have purchased it if I didn’t have to pay for late fees.

I’m just now learning that I really have an appreciation for illustration in children’s books. Marjorie Priceman really does an excellent job of bringing more life to the words that Jacqueline Ogburn has put down on paper. When I asked my children what they liked about the book Noah Boa said he liked Miss Cora Lee Merriweather and the special birthday cake that was made (oops!). Minna Beana liked the “towering wedding cakes” Miss

Cora Lee made. Why, am I not surprised? Schubaboobaly enjoys when Daddy, who likes reading in funny voices, cackles, “Get out of my kitchen!” It sounds pretty frightening, but it’s not. Whenever there is cake, it can’t be too bad!