Childhood is when we’re figuring out our skills, our interests, and how we want to spend our time. But it’s one thing to work on perfecting a skill on our own, it’s another to put it out into the world to be judged. And when the world doesn’t accommodate you to begin with, it can really weigh on your confidence.
Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad by Mickey Carolan is a story about confidence, support, and doing your best despite your personal challenges. Below is my review of Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad followed by an interview with Carolan.
Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad plot summary
Bonnie is a deaf student at the Michigan School of the Deaf who loves to bake and hopes to become a famous baker one day. When she learns about a summer baking competition at the Tuscola County Fair, Bonnie begs her mom to enter.
Once she gets the go ahead, Bonnie practices baking up until the day of the competition. When the day comes, Bonnie feels nervous about even participating. But with the help of her friends, the Deaf Bake Squad, Bonnie is able to show off her skills and produce a chocolate layer cake for the judges. With any luck, she hopes to take the grand prize and cement her confidence in her baking skills.
The story
Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad is a story about teamwork, practice, and confidence. Bonnie’s passion for baking collides with her belief in her own abilities once she realizes that her work is going to be judged. She also questions whether being deaf is going to hinder her ability to do a good job.
Lucky for her, Bonnie has a strong support system. Not only do her friends cheer her on, but they also step in and offer to help. This gives her the motivation she needs to keep going and do her best.
With a sunny and exciting setting, a hero you can root for, and a strong moral message, Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad is one of those fun yet inspiring books that will motivate kids of all backgrounds to pursue their passions, work hard, and do their best while believing that they deserve to be there. The back of the book contains specific discussion questions to drive this point home in allowing kids to absorb and interpret what they just read and apply it to themselves. It also comes with an educational page that teaches kids some sign language related to the events of the story.
The characters
Bonnie is an energetic and enthusiastic kid who is immediately likable. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. But as the reality of the situation sinks in, she begins to doubt herself.
While her schooling and her family life is inclusive to her specific way of communicating and interacting with others, as a deaf girl, venturing out into the world that is not as accommodating causes her to question if her deafness will get in the way of her pursuits, particularly this one. This makes her very self-aware of how she can be perceived outside of her bubble, and I think it’s helpful to show kids that deaf people understand that they operate differently.
Luckily, you don’t have to hear to bake. And Bonnie shows that she can fit in and do just as good a job as any other baker in the competition. Her deafness is never called into question as her work is judged by the look and taste of her cake, not by the personal attributes of its baker.
The format and illustrations
Carolan reteams with his Sky The Deaf Home Run Hero illustrator Adisa Fazlovic to illustrate Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad. The design and color scheme is very similar which helps to show that these two books in the Deaf Kids Can series are connected.
Bonnie is noticeably older than Sky. So, her features are more elongated as are the other characters in the book.
The illustrations have a pastel color palette with simple landscapes which help the characters to pop. I especially like how some pages contain a series of illustrations in order to show movement and build tension. This is especially helpful when it shows Bonnie or other characters using sign language as it captures each movement for each word of a sentence.
The text is relegated to the left side of each page. The font is formatted in large, brown lettering enclosed in a cupcake shape with the sky, clouds, and grass as a standard background, making it more interesting to look at rather than plain text floating in large white space.
My recommendation
I recommend Bonnie and the Deaf Bake Squad to anyone looking to add a strong moral story to a young reader’s bookshelf. Of course, it will most resonate with deaf children, but the message is universal to all kids looking to develop a talent and need some confidence to help them push through the tougher steps and the doubtful thoughts that can arise in their journey.
I did stumble a bit with the rhythm of the narration as it sometimes leans into a rhyme scheme, and other times, it forgoes that rhythm altogether. But it’s a good length for older picture book readers and early readers who have mastered the basics. And while it’s about a young girl, it’s not an overly girlie book, and its message is universal.
Also check out Book 1 in the Deaf Kids Can series, Sky the Deaf Home Run Hero, here!
My rating
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An interview with Mickey Carolan
The book includes illustrated instructions for several words that readers can learn in sign language. What are some good first words or phrases to learn in sign language?
Great question. In the book, there are illustrated instructions for learning sign language, but it’s important to note that the signs presented may not necessarily be the first ones to learn. A good starting point that I often like to recommend is to begin with finger spelling, which involves learning the signs for each letter of the alphabet. This foundational skill allows individuals to engage in basic communication within the Deaf community.
Following finger spelling, many people often learn essential signs related to basic needs. These can include signs like “more,” “eat,” “milk,” “mom,” and “dad.” These signs are practical and commonly used, especially by children who are beginning to learn sign language.
One line in the book reads, “Deafness isn’t an obstacle but rather a sparkle.” Can you elaborate on this?
Certainly, I chose to write this phrase to counteract the often negative descriptions and labels associated with deafness. Its simple intent is to bring a positive perspective to the experience of being deaf. When a child reads this line, the message is clear: what makes them different in terms of their deafness is also what makes them unique and remarkable.
What is your mom’s favorite thing to bake? What is your favorite thing to eat?
My mom’s favorite thing to bake is cupcakes, which is why you’ll notice cupcake outlines on the pages. She also regularly makes delicious zucchini bread. Even now, whenever there’s zucchini bread in her kitchen, I can’t resist having a slice – or maybe even three if I’m being honest!
Does Bonnie live away from home on school days like your mother did growing up?
Yes, Bonnie lives away from home on school days, just as my mother did when she was growing up. As a parent myself now, I have a deeper appreciation for the difficult choices my mother and her parents had to make to ensure she could be part of a supportive community and receive the best education possible. It was an environment that celebrated her Deaf identity and allowed her to forge lifelong friendships.
How was it working with illustrator Adisa Fazlovic a second time? Did you have any specific directions for her on this book?
Working with Adisa Fazlovic for the second time was an absolute pleasure. I have nothing but praise for her style, communication, and efficiency. Once again, she provided illustrations that skillfully enhanced the storytelling experience.
When I handed her the manuscript, I provided only minimal illustration notes with a few specific requests. However, I believe in letting professionals excel in their craft, and Adisa truly delivered.
If you’re in need of an illustrator, I wholeheartedly recommend Adisa; she’s a true rockstar!
Do you have any tips for maintaining confidence even if you don’t reach your goal or win the prize?
Maintaining confidence, even when you don’t achieve your goal or win a prize, is a dynamic process. It’s like a continuous loop, which is a lesson from the first book in the series: courage and confidence are intertwined.
Initially, you need courage to take on new challenges. As you build confidence, it empowers you to face these challenges with self-assuredness. However, confidence can be fragile, and setbacks can happen. In such cases, you’ll find yourself needing courage once again to rebound from disappointment.
It’s crucial to recognize the specific actions or affirmations that bolster your courage and confidence. Once you’ve identified these for yourself and your children, you can reinforce these actions and affirmations to maintain a resilient sense of self-assurance.
Book 1 in the Deaf Kids Can series is about courage. Book 2, Bonnie, is about confidence. Can you tease the theme of Book 3?
The Deaf Kids Can series has explored courage in Book 1 and confidence in Book 2 with Bonnie. As for Book 3, I can provide a little teaser. While there will be a longer wait before the next children’s book in the series, it’s still in its early stages of development. What I can confidently share at this point is that the theme of Book 3 will also begin with the letter “C.”
In the meantime, my upcoming release will be my memoir, scheduled for January 2024. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
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