My daughter who is obsessed with the Cupcake Diaries read and gave her review: “It was a good book but it was pretty much the exact same story as the first Cupcake Diaries book without the friendship drama. I was really hoping for a new story so I was disappointed. However, if you are younger and haven’t read any of the Cupcake Diaries, this might be a good option. Then again, when you ARE ready to advance to the original Cupcake Diaries you will feel like you already read this story so maybe you should just pick one series and stick to it.”

Overall, it is a good option for a younger child but it would have been nice if the story wasn’t so similar to the one the author already wrote.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance electronic copy. All opinions are original.

Emily’s Cupcake Magic is the first installment in a new chapter book series that is a companion to The Cupcake Diaries series. The book introduces readers to Emily, who has moved to a new school after a flood displaced the students at her school. Her friends were assigned to a different school and Emily finds herself alone and worried about making new friends. Cupcakes from her older stepsister and talented cupcake baker Katie help her to break the ice with other students. When her new friends want to have a cupcake baking club, Emily worries that she’ll be seen as a mini version of Katie. With supportive illustrations and short chapters filled with positive messages to go with familiar themes of friendship, change, and finding your own way, young readers will devour this book and be looking forward to more adventures with Emily and her friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

This series was already a huge hit in my classroom. Now that they are becoming graphic novels, I know all my readers will be dying to read them. This is a must for any elementary classroom. All kids will love it. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. The graphic novel version does this series proud.

This is the perfect early middle novel for readers looking for relatable characters, friendship and….cupcakes. =) Emily’s life had already changed when her parents got divorced and she started alternating staying with her Mom and Dad. But now, she also must change schools when hers is flooded. Change is hard and making friends is even harder, but with the help of her big stepsister’s cupcake magic, Emily makes some new friends and wins a baking contest in the process. Things are going well, but Emily is still torn. How can she enjoy the time with her new friends and still miss her old ones? How can she find her own way, but still bake cupcakes like her big stepsister? This is the first book in Coco Simon’s Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch. Emily is Katie’s younger stepsister and is bringing the same spirit, energy and sweetness to this new series as Katie does in her own Cupcake Club. The cover is bright and glittery, the illustrations are fun and inviting and the story is one that is sure to be loved by all. And now…I want to start an adult cupcake club. Who is with me?!

This was an adorable book for young readers! Many elementary aged kids are already familiar with The Cupcake Diaries series. This younger adaptation is perfect for younger readers. It has shorter chapters, less words, and more pictures! Super cute for elementary school aged children.

This was a cute story about a girl at a new school , and how she comes into her own even with an older sibling who they find is similar. Very cute and short quick read!

Emily is going to a new school and is worried she won't find friends. But she finds there are other girls feeling the same way and they team up to form a cupcake club.

Super cute!

I love that this is sort of a shorter story from the little sister of one of the original cupcake club girls.

It’s perfect for the younger readers, elementary age. who are familiar with those other books, and maybe a little younger. The themes are great— new school, making new friends, being a child of divorce, finding your own identity. But it makes these themes bite size for the younger mind. Definitely a good read for young readers! I know my daughters will love it.

This book is based off the other cupcake books where there is a cupcake club. The cover and title of this book are eye catching and make you want to read the book. The book is about friendships and confidence. The illustrations in the book are wonderful. I enjoyed this book and will suggest my students read this. This book also has some good ideas of how to start a club and it gives a fun club idea. This book does have a boy in it that competes in the baking contest, but I would suggest this book for girls more than boys.

"Emily's Cupcake Magic!" by Coco Simon is a delightful chapter book that introduces readers to Emily Green, a girl facing the challenges of switching schools and feeling isolated from her friends. When a baking contest is announced at her new school, Emily must navigate her passion for baking while grappling with living in the shadow of her stepsister, Katie Brown, a famous baker.

Coco Simon's storytelling is engaging and relatable, with Emily's journey of self-discovery and embracing her unique baking style resonating authentically. The book incorporates charming black-and-white illustrations that enhance the narrative, along with a glittery cover that adds visual appeal.

Despite following familiar themes, "Emily's Cupcake Magic!" stands out for its endearing characters and positive messages about friendship and individuality. This chapter book is a delightful read for young audiences interested in stories about baking, friendship, and personal growth. Overall, it sets a promising tone for the Cupcake Diaries: The New Batch series, making it a delightful addition to children's literature.

This book was adorable! My daughters have already read it many times. I can’t wait until it come out, and I can get them a copy!

I enjoyed reading this sweet story. The author does a great job of teaching individiality while also encouraging relationship building.

I received an electronic ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
A companion series to The Cupcake Diaries designed for lower level readers. This emerging reader chapter book focuses on Emily (Katie's stepsister) and her friends. They have been moved from their old school due to plumbing issues and are trying to settle in to the new elementary school while it is being repaired. Emily's friends all went to a different school so she is lonely and struggling to find new friends. When she connects with others through cupcakes, she worries that everyone sees her as a mini Katie. I appreciate the message of struggling to find your own identity while sharing an interest with an older sibling. Katie helps Emily see how they can share a love of baking and still be themselves.
The black and white illustrations are detailed and capture the emotions surrounding each portion of the story. Short chapters make this an easy read for low to mid elementary level readers.

Not my favorite cupcake diary. Although I appreciated that the characters were kind and supportive and there were no “mean girl vibes” or ugly bickering and fighting or bullying….story felt a bit short and under developed. Even a simple sweet story needs a bit of development. This was not a favorite of mine or my 10-year-old daughter. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for our honest opinions.

Thank you Netgally for the advanced copy of this book. When young Emily is temporarily relocated to a nearby school she is leaving her school friends and is all alone. Thankfully with the help from her stepsister Katie and her blended family she has a supportive family to help her during this transition. Her stepsister Katie suggests that she bring cupcakes to help her find new friends. Who doesn’t love a pretty cupcake? Katie was right. Emily is met with acceptance and this triggers the new friends to start a baking club. This book describes the social anxiety of a preteen and the importance of being able to make her concerns known and validated. The drawings throughout the book are a perfect touch to help the reader visualize the process Emily is experiencing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an advanced read copy of this book!

The New Batch is a new chapter book series based on the Cupcake Diaries Series. The main character in the book is Emily, Katie from the Original Cupcake Diaries, younger stepsister. Emily has recently started at a new school and is struggling to make friends. With a little help from Katie and the magic of cupcakes, Emily meets a new group of friends.

This is a sweet early chapter book series and my 6 year old daughter loved listening to me read it aloud to her! We are looking forward to the next book in this series!

My older daughter loves the cupcake diaries series and I was excited to see a version for younger readers. It included lots of relevant topics such as divorced parents, step siblings, new schools, new friends and shyness. I appreciated the theme of not being perfect or exactly like someone else.

This is the perfect book for emerging readers who want to delve into the world of chapter books, but they still want a book with fun pictures and not to much text. It has a lovely message of finding a path in a new school and figuring out how to be true to oneself without falling underneath the shadow of someone else, like an older sister. I love that this is a spinoff of another series that older readers already are familiar with. It is the perfect starting spot for them to possibly bring their siblings into the world of the Cupcake Club.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy! My daughter isn’t old enough to read chapter books yet, but she loves listening to me read them to her. She also loves the occasional pictures. Great story!

Fun, easy to read chapter book, nicely illustrated. Great for early readers. Emily finds herself in a new school, while all her friends are at another school. She also is alternating living with her mom and dad, At her dad’s home, she has an older stepsister and a stepmom. Story emphasizes her finding new friends and her connections with her stepsister.