Here are a few of my favorite pancake-themed picture books for children. A pancake playdate is a great opportunity to “check out” (hopefully, literally) a new book or two. I almost always include a book as part of a Playdate, even if the kids are hundreds of miles away. There are so many fun ways to read to children, and more beautiful books than you could take in in one lifetime. Here are some of my favorites:
If You Give a Pig a Pancake
Written by Laura Numeroff, Illustrated by Felicia Bond
Ages 2-5 years
Find it on YouTube, read by Ryan Lagod and Craig Tovey (two family-friendly comedians)
This pancake book is part of the delightful, “If You Give…” series, made famous by the favorite children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. You’ll find a similar story here.
One of the reasons books like If You Give a Pig a Pancake have so much appeal for kids is that they help develop sequential thinking. This is an important skill they will apply to many other subjects. Sequential thinking refers to the ability to process information in a specific order, understanding that Monday comes before Tuesday, or that if you give a pig a pancake, you’re going to need to get syrup out of the cupboard too. A response to a step is taken, and then it’s possible to take the next step.
After you have read, If you Give a Pig a Pancake aloud a few times, begin by pausing before saying some of the main words. You’ll allow your child to supply these from memory. For example, you might read, “If you give a pig a pancake, she’ll want some ____________ (pause while the child fills in the next word) to go with it.”
Once your child has the hang of sequential thinking, try writing your own sequential story, Short Stack: A Pancake Story By Me, which you can download free.
Mama Panya’s Pancakes
Written by Mary and Rich Chamberlin, Illustrated by Julia Cairns
Ages 3-7 years
Available at Readeo.com for long-distance reading
Find it on YouTube, read by Lorena Santana
My very favorite of the pancake books, I love this multicultural tale of a mother and son who decide to make pancakes for their evening meal. Along the trail to the market, where they go to buy flour and chiles for their pancakes, Adika finds many friends, and he invites each of them to join him and Mama Panya for a pancake supper. Mama Panya gets more and more worried, knowing that her meager supplies will not stretch far enough to feed the crowd. But Adika understands the power of friendship. Like Mama, he has learned that “a little bit and a little bit more” is always enough.
As with all books published by Barefoot Books publishing, the illustrations are rich and colorful and the back of the book includes information to extend the learning experience. You’ll find fascinating information about village life in Kenya, illustrations of the native animals and plants pictured throughout the book, and an explanation about speaking Kiswahili, together with a pronunciation guide of the Kiswahili greetings used throughout the book. This one is a treasure, and it’s also available on Readeo.com if you are reading remotely with a grandchild.
Pancakes for Breakfast
By Tomi DePaola
Ages 2-5 years
Again, this book is great for developing sequential thinking. DePaola’s book includes illustrations only, no text. But don’t let that stop you. The delightful illustrations tell the story, so your child or grandchild can verbalize their own version of the story as you “read” together. Perfect for non-readers and early readers, you’ll watch a little old woman prepare to make pancakes only to discover she’s missing a few ingredients. Of course, she knows just what to do, and as the day stretches on, she adds the necessary ingredients one by one. You’ll love hearing your children tell you what happens in the fun surprise ending as they interpret the “moral of the story” on their own.
Once Upon a Pancake
Started by Rick Benger, with the rest written and illustrated by YOU!
Ages 2-5 years
I love to write, so when I found this fun fill-in-the-blank book designed to help children develop their storytelling ability, I had to have my own copy. Over the years, different grandchildren have filled in different parts of the stories in their own handwriting, so this is one I treasure. Here’s a sample from the author:
Benger has also written a version for 6-8-year-olds, and another for writers ages 9-12 that have similar reviews. Try the version that is most age-appropriate for your children or grandchildren.
Rhinos Don’t Eat Pancakes
Anna Kemp & Sara Ogilvie
Ages 2-6 years
Daisy has a problem. Her parents are kind of “a million miles away.” That is to say, they are a little bit distracted being adults, and Daisy can’t get their attention long enough to warn them that there is a purple rhinoceros eating all of the pancakes in the kitchen. But since the rhino’s family is also “a million miles away,” the two of them become friends. But one day, a visit to the zoo changes everything. Children will love the adorable illustrations, and they’ll probably relate to Daisy’s problem. Aren’t you glad you get to be the grownup reading this book who has time to “listen and listen” until your child completely has “completely run out of words?”
The Pancake King
By Phyllis LaFarge, Illustrated by Seymour Chwast
Ages 3-8 years
This title gets mixed reviews. You’ll either love it or hate it, but I’ll wager you are going to enjoy this one, if for no other reason than the fact that you are probably an adult who has enough experience to appreciate an author telling the story of your life. The disappointing cover of the newly-available reprint of this vintage children’s book bears no resemblance to the book’s interior illustrations, which were drawn by world-renowned graphic designer and illustrator, Seymour Chwast. According to one reviewer, Chwast actually considered this work the favorite of his career.
I love this description by writer, Maria Popova:
“…it was a sweet, subversive parable about the tradeoffs of creativity and commerce, the messy relationship between success and life-satisfaction, the treacherous way in which prestige can hijack our sense of purpose, and what happens when a personal labor of love becomes a ‘brand.’ A story, in other words, both timeless and immensely timely today, when the integrity of every creative life is bending under the ever-growing pressures of bigger-better-faster.”
I truly appreciated this little book. And I hope it helped bring me back to center. If you have overscheduled children, they may relate as well. As a parent, this book may be a good segue into a conversation about whether ballet lessons, or club soccer, or a career in video gaming is actually still what they want. Meanwhile, I wanted to give you just a taste of the illustrations:
Here’s Henry the Pancake King hard at work:
But the day Arthur J. Jinker of Jinker Enterprises “discovers” Henry’s talent, everything starts to change…and not for the better.
The Holly-Day After
By Danielle Marietta, Illustrated by Masha Klot
Ages 3-7 years
Available as a recordable read-aloud at MakeMomentos.com
And finally, if you decide that the best day of the year for pancakes is the day after Christmas, as Santa’s elves do, you’ll love this fun book: The Holly-Day After. Once Santa is home and all of the reindeer are tucked in for a rest, the elves wake up early for a holly-day pancake tower competition. It’s a great way for everyone to have a little bit of downtime after a busy holiday season. You just may find that this tradition appeals enough to try it in your own home!
This title is available on MakeMomentos.com, so if you are a grandparent looking for a fun way to celebrate with a long-distance grandchild during the holiday season, you can purchase an eBook version of the Holly-Day After, record yourself narrating the book, and send a copy to a grandchild. The interface is easy to use, and your grandchildren will love having their very own audio book with you as the narrator.