George Edward Stanley - The Battle of the Bakers

P RESIDENT: K ATIE L YNN
V ICE P RESIDENT: T INA
H EAD B AKER: G RANDMA A GENDA: 1. F IND OUT IF G RANDMA IS GIVING AWAY COMPANY SECRETS . 2. S HOW EVERYONEESPECIALLY J ONATHAN W ILBARGERTHAT WERE THE BEST BAKERS IN TOWN . 3. (H A ! T AKE THAT , J ONATHAN !) Text copyright 2000 by G. E. E.

Stanley.
Illustrations copyright 2000 by Linda Dockey Graves.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States of America by Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. www.randomhouse.com/kids Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stanley, George Edward.
Battle of the bakers / by George Edward Stanley ;
illustrated by Linda Dockey Graves.
p. cm. (The Katie Lynn Cookie Company; #3)
A Stepping Stone Book.
Summary: Katie Lynn and Tina are sure they will win the towns bake-off, until Jonathan Wilbarger enters the contest and the competition starts to heat up.
eISBN: 978-0-307-81706-8 [1. 2. 2.

Competition (Psychology)Fiction. 3. GrandmothersFiction.] I. Graves, Linda, ill. II. v3.1 To Shana, for making everything work so well
and to
Gwen, Charles, James, and Tambye,
with all my love!

Katie Lynn looked around the library to see if any of the other kids were watching her. v3.1 To Shana, for making everything work so well
and to
Gwen, Charles, James, and Tambye,
with all my love! Katie Lynn looked around the library to see if any of the other kids were watching her.

They werent. She took the flyer out of her pocket and unfolded it. In big letters, it said: BATTLE OF THE BAKERS
Sponsored by the Better Cooks Flour
Company! A baking contest for students in grades
one through four!
Win a secret grand prize! In smaller letters, it explained the rules. Their teacher, Mrs. Nattison, had given a flyer to everyone in their class. Everyone thought that the secret grand prize was a million dollars.

Some of the kids planned to enter the contest. But Katie Lynn and Tina were sure they could beat them. After all, they had been baking cookies for the Katie Lynn Cookie Company for a long time. What would their customers think if they didnt win? Katie Lynn pulled a cookbook off the shelf. All of a sudden, Tina whispered, Katie Lynn! There he is! Katie Lynn quickly turned. Tina had pulled several cookbooks off the shelf.

Now she was looking through the empty space to the other side. Tina! said Katie Lynn. What are you doing? Tina giggled. Im spying on Jonathan Wilbarger! Jonathan Wilbarger? Katie Lynn gasped. Why are you spying on him? Because I think hes cute, replied Tina. Really? said Katie Lynn.

You never told me that before. Let me look! Tina moved over. Jonathan was sitting alone at a library table. He was reading a book. Katie Lynn turned back to Tina. I agree.

Tina frowned. You do? Katie Lynn nodded. I think hes the cutest boy in our class! She looked through the bookshelf again. Now she saw Mrs. Nattisons face looking back. Nattison. Nattison.

What are you doing? Mrs. Nattison came around the end of the bookshelf. Havent you girls picked out your books yet? she asked. Yes, maam, said Tina. She held up her book. Katie Lynn quickly grabbed a book off the shelf.

Yes, maam, she said. Then please start reading, said Mrs. Nattison. Library time is almost over. She pointed to Jonathans table. Sit over there, she said.

Tina looked at Katie Lynn and grinned. They walked over to Jonathans table. We have to sit with you, Jonathan, Tina said. Mrs. Nattison said so. Okay. Okay.

Katie Lynn and Tina pulled out their chairs and sat down. What book did you pick out to read? asked Tina. Jonathan held up the book for them to see. Its about bread. Bread? said Tina. Your family owns a bakery, Jonathan, said Katie Lynn.

Dont you already know about bread? I want to look for new recipes, said Jonathan. Why? asked Katie Lynn. Im going to enter the Battle of the Bakers, Jonathan said. Im going to win the secret grand prize. No way! Tina cried. We are! Boys dont even know how to cook, said Katie Lynn.

Are you kidding? All the best chefs are guys, said Jonathan. Some restaurants dont even hire girls. What about Mr. Chesterfields restaurant? said Katie Lynn. We bake his cookies! Yeah, Jonathan! said Tina. What have you ever baked? Bread, Jonathan replied.

He grinned. Lots and lots of bread. I started helping Dad and Grandpa when I was a little kid. Katie Lynn and Tina looked at each other. Grandma bought some bread at your bakery the other day, said Katie Lynn. Did you help bake that? Probably, Jonathan said.

Did you like it? Katie Lynn shrugged. It was okay. What do you mean okay? Jonathan said. Its the best bread in town. Time to go, class! Mrs. Nattison announced.

Jonathan stood up. My bread is going to beat your cookies, he said. He started toward the door. Our cookies are going to beat your bread! Katie Lynn called after him. Boys! said Tina. Sometimes they really make me mad.

I know, said Katie Lynn. Then Tina sighed dreamily. But I still think hes cute, she said. So do I, said Katie Lynn.

Katie Lynn and Tina ran down the sidewalk toward Katie Lynns house. I dont care how cute Jonathan is, said Katie Lynn.

We just cant let him win the Battle of the Bakers! We need to talk to Grandma right away! Why? asked Tina. She knows more cooking secrets than any book, said Katie Lynn. She can help us choose just the right cookie recipe to beat Jonathan! Wont that be cheating? Tina asked. No. You can talk to a grownup before the battle, replied Katie Lynn. But during the battle, the only thing they can do is turn on the oven and take out the cookies.