Biggest Strawberry Cake

A Taiwanese girl's heartfelt story
Winning entry of the CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation Young Writers' Illustration and Creation Contest

If I were a baker, what dessert would I make?

When I was born, Mom left home,
and Dad works far away.
Even though Mom and Dad aren't around,
I'm lucky to have Grandma taking care of me.
As a little girl, I always wondered,
what could I do for them?

If I were a baker,
I could bake them treats!
Chimney cakes, mille-feuille, pineapple buns...
Each one would be my love and gratitude for my family!

Heartfelt Recommendation

Wang Wen-Hua | Children's Literature Author
Fang Hsin-Chou | Founder of Junyi Academy
Wu Pao-Chun | Founder of Wu Pao-Chun Bakery
Yin Yun-Peng | Founder of CommonWealth Magazine
Tang Tang | Children's Literature Creator
Chang Shu-Chiung | Children's Reading Promoter and Children's Literature Worker
Jointly recommended by the principals of 51 Hope Reading Alliance schools across Taiwan

Reading the words makes my nose tingle,
writing about family makes my heart sweet, like a strawberry.

Children from the mountains possess hearts as close and pleasing as clouds and rain, and ambitions as solid as towering peaks. Reading "The Biggest Strawberry Cake," I felt as if I was face-to-face with the young author, listening to her story unfold. It was a warm voice from the mountains!
──Wang Wen-Hua / Children's Literature Author

"My heart feels like a piece is missing, can I still bake a perfect cake?" Of course you can! Because the missing piece will be filled with lots of love. This is an excellent book about "cheering yourself on and then turning around to cheer others on"; I hugged this book for a long time.
──Wang Shu-Fen / Children's Literature Author


Reading the words makes my nose tingle, writing about family makes my heart sweet, like a strawberry.
Life hoped for is perfectly round, happiness yearned for is full, like a cake.
The author is young, her wishes are small, her illustrations are wonderful,
the story's meaning is profound, her talent is truly exceptional.
──Lin Che-Chang/Children's Literature Author

Author Introduction

Chin I-Fei / Author

My name is Chin I-Fei, and I am a Bunun girl.

This picture book was created during the period when my dad wasn't home. I was only in fourth grade then, and I often missed my dad. Plus, I wasn't getting along very well with my sister at the time, so sometimes I would cry while drawing. During this long period, the pressure was actually immense, because I had to attend classes and also find time to draw. At one point, the school invited singer Quan Shishuang, but my teacher told me: if I went to see Quan Shishuang, I wouldn't be able to finish drawing before the deadline. I was very distressed at the time! Although it was a rare opportunity, I still chose to prioritize catching up. There was a moment when I wanted to give up, but in the end, I finished it~~~ I was extremely happy when it was done~

I am proud of myself, because while others were happily playing, I was working hard to meet the deadline. While others were listening to Quan Shishuang, I was still working hard to meet the deadline. When I wanted to give up, the little angel in my heart told me: "You've worked so hard already~ just hold on a little longer." But then a little devil told me: "Is it really necessary to be so tired? Wouldn't it be easier to just give up?"

But in the end, I still listened to the little angel. It's a good thing I listened to the little angel then~

Liu Ching-Yen / Author

Having been involved in the CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation's Hope Reading project since its first year, traveling to remote elementary schools and working with corporate partners to train reading teachers and volunteers, seeing the results now feels like I've helped the foundation raise a group of children who love to read.

In addition to constantly translating books and writing stories for children, I also host children's reading programs on television, continually spreading the seeds of reading in various ways...

Tsai Yu-Ling / Illustrator

Graduated from Kingston University, London, with a degree in Illustration and Animation. Previously worked as a card and stationery designer, and is now a freelance illustrator. Her works can be seen in books and newspapers/magazines.

While illustrating this picture book, I could feel I-Fei's love and emotions for her family through the words. I hope my illustrations, accompanied by the text, can also bring the same warmth to readers.