Pancakes in Pajamas

December 15, 2017
Baby Bear wants to wear pajamas all day and eat nothing but pancakes--and the whole town joins in.One Saturday morning, while smothering pancakes in syrup, Baby Bear wishes he could stay in his pajamas for the rest of the day. Mama and Papa think it's a great idea. Suddenly Pancakes in Pajamas Day is born. The first thing the Bear family does in their pajamas is go back to bed! After some stories and a nap, they play games. Then they decide to take their pajamas outdoors. They stroll through the park, content and confident in their nightclothes. When they begin to feel hungry they ride their bikes to--where else?--Pete's Pancakes. Friends see the Bears riding around and change into their pajamas to join them. Soon there is a parade of patterned pajamas riding all over town (more than one reader will likely be dismayed to see that no one is wearing a helmet). Everyone ends up in the town square for a fantastic Pancakes in Pajamas party. It's delightful to pore over the diverse, all-animal townsfolk and see their varied activities. Asch excels at clean, simple lines, but his brimming crowd scene is warm and inviting. A cozy weekend full of sweet family fun, with a dash of community and a pinch of love. (Picture book. 3-6)

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February 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 1-Asch adds a new title to his popular series. The Bear family is enjoying a pancake breakfast so much that Baby Bear suggests they spend the day in pajamas and "eat pancakes all day long!" His parents agree; and dressed just as they are, they read stories, nap, take a walk in the park, and ride bicycles. They have so much fun that they inspire the whole town to join them in a bicycle parade topped off by a Pancakes in Pajamas party. Asch's trademark simple, flat paintings set in frames show the bears delighting in their day. The narrative is similarly straightforward with short sentences and easy-to-decipher vocabulary. VERDICT A welcome addition to a series that encourages family time and simple pleasures, with a little dose of "silliness." Good for storytime and on-on-one reading.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence

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