Pancakes for Breakfast [Hardcover]

Tomie dePaola (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

This wordless picture book follows the trials of a little old lady who attempts to make pancakes for her breakfast. “The optimistic determination of the woman and the gentle humor of the illustrations make this an appealing book for the very young.”--School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With visions of pancakes dancing in her head, a little old lady goes to great lengths to procure the necessary ingredients. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

With visions of pancakes dancing in her head, a little old lady goes to great lengths to procure the necessary ingredients. Ages 2-6. (Publishers Weekly )

This wordless picture book follows the trials of a little old lady who attempts to make pancakes for her breakfast. The optimistic determination of the woman and the gentle humor of the illustrations make this an appealing book for the very young. (School Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 3, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152594558
• ISBN-13: 978-0152594558
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Do You Read a Book With No Words?, January 12, 2006

By 

Lightman (New York) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pancakes for Breakfast (Paperback)

How do you read a book with no words? The same way you did before you learned how to read - you look at the pictures...

What do you see?

The sun comes up over the hills on a still winter's morning. It seems we're in New England. The book's protagonist, something of a Yankee babushka, is nestling under her very warm covers. Her pets, a fat feline and a common looking brown hound, are just beginning to stir...

The morning ripens with potential as the thought of a tall stack of fluffy pancakes enters the mind of our lady of the house. So begins a quest, and several unexpected obstacles will have to be surmounted before desire ultimately is fulfilled.

My eldest daughter, now in college, remembers this book as one of her favorites. I asked her what stands out after all these years. It's the golden blob of butter, centered on the top of each tall stack.

For this, a recommendation of four stars certainly seems in order.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story without words, September 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Pancakes for Breakfast (Paperback)

I "read" this wordless picture book to a class of 2nd graders and they loved predicting what would happen next in the story. Tomie dePaola has frame by frame pictures of the pancake making process. Some students didn't get what she was doing at first, but as the storyline progressed, they understood. The kids were so excited to get to the end of the story, they were surprised that they hadn't guessed the ending.
This is also a great story to give children/students who have speech problems or problems staying focused on a storyline. It gets them thinking and "Pancakes for Breakfast" is made into 'their own little story'.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story grows with the child, September 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pancakes for Breakfast (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book. My grandaughter received it when she was under a year old, and we looked at the pictures and talked about them. Slowly, she began to put together the story line, and recognize what came next, and why, and now at age two she can almost tell the story herself. Wish there were more "books without text" that both adult and child could enjoy together. The author's illustrations do a wonderful job of creating a story that truly grows with the child.