Pancakes, Pancakes!

I think a lot of families make pancakes as their special Sunday morning breakfast; we never did until I read this book. It makes it so easy! While I was setting up the ingredients my husband read this book to my daughter. Then we cooked them just like the book said. I really recommend the Swedish Pancake Mix by Lund's for this instead of Aunt Jemima since the Swedish mix you have to stir and stir to get all the lumps completely out. You can even pour it into a jar and shake it to get it smooth, which is a great task for a four year old. If you have several kids, they can take turns stirring, passing it back and forth forever and you don't have to worry that "overmixing will toughen pancakes" like with Aunt J. Even better, you take the Lund's mix and add milk (not water) and an egg which is just like the book... and they make tiny little pancakes which are just kid size. You only use a tablespoon of batter at a time. (And jam on pancakes, like in the book, is easier for kids to eat and less messy than syrup... perfect all around, since they'll want to do it like Jack does). Pancakes Pancakes made a great Sunday morning at our house even better! And I really like how, if you read it every week, your children will take different things away from it each time, from a small child learning that milk comes from cows/eggs from chickens, to an older child discovering the entire process of threshing wheat. Eric Carle has written a classic which will grow with your family. I really recommend making this book a part of your own traditions.

Pancakes, Pancakes! is another beautifully illustrated Eric Carle book for the youngsters. My son likes nothing better than a huge plate of pancakes for breakfast and was attracted to this book immediately upon viewing its cover depicting a large, happy pancake.Pancakes, Pancakes! tells the story of a hungry little boy who wakes one morning with a craving for pancakes. He asks him mom for pancakes but she's too busy and tells him to collect the things needed to make them instead (they apparently don't sell the frozen ones in this story). He's a good little boy and does so without complaint. He has to make the flour (by hand!), wait for the hen to lay an egg, milk the spotted cow, churn the butter and so on until he has all of the ingredients assembled. Frankly, I was surprised this poor child didn't complain and then collapse from exhaustion! Finally, the sweet boy gets his pancakes and all ends well.My kids were riveted to this tale and especially enjoyed the illustrations. They were particularly fascinated by the page containing a picture of the ingredients the boy collected. The story also invited a lot of questions (my kids are used to microwave pancakes and were quite bewildered by the lengths the boy had to go to for breakfast). They both seemed to enjoy it very much and, best of all, it held their attention and made them think and ask questions instead of zoning out while I read. All of this combined with the beautiful art work makes Pancakes, Pancakes! a keeper for us.

If you and your kids (ages 2-7) like to eat pancakes. You will surely enjoy helping them make pancakes with you in the kitchen after reading this yummy (though not edible) book. Your taste buds will salivate and you'll be heading to the cabinet to check for ingredients to help your little ones make fresh pancakes.

Pancakes, Pancakes has been my favorite "elementary" book for years! I love this book even now and I am in middle school. Eric Carle is a great children's author. I have about every one of his books he has ever written. The illustrations are beautiful to look at and the stories are so appealing to young readers. Great job, Mr. Eric Carle!!!!!!!!

Pancakes, Pancakes is a wonderful story for kids 3 and up! Our hero, Jack, embarks upon a remarkable and entertaining adventure: gathering the ingredients to make his pancakes. The book teaches self-reliance, teaches the basics of where what we eat comes from and offers a progressive format that young children find entertaining.