Fun, Detailed Board Book For Toddlers! By bellastella227 on Feb 10, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

My husband picked up the book Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle recently for our 2-year old daughter. Both our daughter and us have appreciated other classic Eric Carle titles so he figured we couldn't go wrong. I was a little nervous at first because the book seemed a little long and detailed for a 2-year old's attention span. But I was wrong, and he was right!

Eric Carle's colorful illustrations always catch the eye of the reader. This book is no exception. This book is all about the story, however. It tells the tale of Jack, who wakes up and decides he wants a big pancake for breakfast. His mother is already up and busy so she instructs him on what he can do to help make a pancake for breakfast. This does not just mean pulling things out of the cupboards...it means cutting down wheat, grinding the wheat to flour, gathering an egg from a hen, milking a cow, churning butter, gathering firewood, etc. until all the ingredients are in line. It also involves mixing the ingredients and cooking the pancake. Of course, it ends with Jack enjoying the delicious dish.

Due to the amount of detail in the storyline, I worried my daughter would lose interest and not really follow along. Instead, she sits quietly and helps point out the different ingredients and utensils needed. She asks questions and begs to read this book every night. I don't know if this is normal, though! Those with a short attention span may want to look elsewhere. But if you have a curious child and are looking for another book to add to the collection, I would highly recommend Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle.