Pancakes-Paris

by Claire Huchet Bishop, Georges Schreiber (Illustrator)

There was magic in that box of pancake flour. Charles was sure that if he just knew how, he could make French crêpes for Mardi Gras, the crêpes they always had to celebrate the day before Lent in Paris. But how to make French crêpes from a package of ordinary American pancake flour—that was the puzzle. Charles could read French quite well—he was just ten years old—but he couldn't read English, and all the directions on the box were printed in English.

It was a difficult problem that required deep thought, but Charles was equal to it. He not only solved the problem, but he kept the surprise for his mother and little sister Zézette, and made very good friends of two American GI's besides.

Paris in the springtime today is the background for this appealing story with its overtones of sadness and gaiety, of courage and kindness, which will linger long after the story is but a memory.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, France, World War II, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Food

62 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Claire Huchet Bishop (December 30 1898 – 13 March 1993) was a Swiss-born American children's novelist and librarian. She was the winner of the Newbery Honor Medal for "Pancakes-Paris" and "All Alone," and won the Josette Frank Award for "Twenty and Ten." Her children's book "The Five Chinese Brothers" won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1959.

An American born in Geneva, Switzerland, Bishop grew up in France and Geneva. She attended the Sorbonne and started the first children's library in France.
After marrying American concert pianist Frank Bishop, she moved to the United States. She worked for the New York City Public Library from 1932-1936. She was an apologist for Roman Catholicism and an opponent of antisemitism.

She was a lecturer and storyteller throughout the U.S., and a children's book editor. Beal was the President of International Council of Christians & Jews from 1975–1977, and the President of the Jewish-Christian Fellowship of France from 1976-1981.

After residing in New York for 50 years, Bishop returned to France and died in Paris in 1993. She was 94 years old.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally found it on openlibrary.org. Worth the wait. Concise way to learn about the privations the French suffered after WWII was over, while the Americans were still there, trying to do what they could to help. Delightful. And charming illustrations, too.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the gloomy, morose days following the end of World War II, Paris, France is not nearly what it had been previously, in the bygone happy times referred to by the kids in this book simply as "Before". France absorbed some of the worst damage of any allied country in the war, and now, only a few short years later, the nation is still enshrouded in the dim pallor of that sadness.

When two American soldiers ask ten-year-old Charles for directions to St. Séverin Church, the pleasantly accommodating boy walks them directly there. Grateful for his kind assistance, the GIs reward Charles with a box of pancake mix, a potential boon to his impoverished family despite the fact that he cannot understand the instructions on the box, written in English as they are. Charles wants to make the pancakes as a treat for his mother and his sister Zézette, as sort of a way of reminding them of "Before", but he is unsure how to manage this.

Taking his cause right to the top authority, the American Embassy is Paris, Charles finds someone who can explain to him how to make the pancakes, and for one night in the heart of a city still mourning the atrocities committed against itself, a boy and his family can once again feel what it was like "Before", when joy still reigned in the souls of the French and something as nice as a pancake dinner could be enjoyed by a poor French family. In this happening, perhaps Charles and the others can also catch a glimpse of the happiness that one day will return to his country.

Claire Huchet Bishop is an author whose work is truly timeless, I believe. Pancakes-Paris acquits itself admirably as a 1948 Newbery Honor recipient, and I would recommend it to anyone that likes a good, understated story about hope and love.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and neglected Newbery Honor book set in postwar France about children longing for the things they had before the war. I wish there were more books like this for children. Too many WWII books set during the war leave the impression that once the war was over, everything simply reverted back to "normal." Educational and engaging, this would be an excellent edition to any library.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little story about a boy in post-WWII Paris, who is given a box of pancake mix by a kindly American soldier, then spends the rest of the story trying to figure out how to make the pancakes (the instructions are in English) in time for Mardi Gras. Borderline saccharine, but still a nice little read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This super short Newbery Honor book was heartwarming. The old fashioned illustrations added to the charm.

Popsugar 2021- A book that has less than 1000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. (Amazon-6 reviews, Goodreads-17 reviews)

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quelle surprise! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this short story. What a sweet story! I really liked the generosity of the American soldiers who helped out this little boy and his family. I also liked the resourcefulness of Charles to seek out a translator for the pancake mix box. It was also sad to read how very deprived this family was of even the most basic necessities.

[Phil J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Americans have no idea what it's like to live in a post-war zone or deal with the national crises of violent regime change and foreign occupation. It's hard for our students to empathize with a place like Iraq or Syria; they are too "other" for making connections. In this simple book about making Fat Tuesday crepes, we meet a post-war Parisian family and their cautious interactions with American GIs. It shines a light on these experiences and emotions in a way that most children can relate to. It would also help students understand how we might appear, even to our allies, and even as we help them, as a a little scary, overpowering, and ignorant.

There is a somewhat awkward racial aspect of the book, and that's not altogether a bad thing. The main character, Charles, makes a big deal out of the jolly Aunt Jemima face on the box of pancake mix. Later, when he meets an African American porter at the American embassy, he assumes that the man is Aunt Jemima's brother! It's not racist, so much as awkwardly naive. It's actually the perfect level of awkwardness for a classroom conversation about how people are represented in popular culture.

I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it for a variety of classroom applications.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite possible for the 12/13 read-aloud.

Such a sweet, understated story about what life is like after a war.

Loved this review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Pretty much sums it up.

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

Itś a nice little story about American troops helping a little French boy celebrate Mardi Gras for his sister. Some stereotypes but you can handle it.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming post-world-war-II story about a family in Paris. The father died shortly after being released from a German prisoner of war camp. Mother goes to work every day to support the family. Charles, 10, takes care of his sister Zezette, 5. With his friends they reminisce about how it was Before. When there was milk, eggs, butter, meat, fuel for the fire, matches, soap, and a whole host of things that everyone must continue to do without. Most of all, with the beginning of Lent a week away, they long for crepes, traditionally eaten on Mardi Gras. Charles helps two American (large, friendly--are there any other kind?) soldiers find their way to a church, but refuses a tip in the form of money. They give him, instead, a box of Aunt Jemima pancake mix. Ah, but Charles cannot read the directions in English. In a stroke of inspiration, he visits the American Embassy where the receptionist/secretary translates the recipe. On his way out, he also meets again Jerry and John, the American soldiers. Spoiler alert: they show up on the evening of Mardi Gras bringing much more food (and soap!), make the pancakes, feed the family and all the other children in the apartment building who can smell the pancakes and cocoa. It is a warm, positive story. And it tells a truth about reality and the power of generosity and kindness.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because it ticked all my boxes. Set in Paris post WWII, young Charles is the man of the family (mother and 5 yr old Zezette) after the death of this father (due to illness contracted in a POW camp). The short 60 page novel opens with him sitting in the sun with his friends (& sister) talking about BEFORE. This book was an Honor Book in 1948 so the setting was important - life in Paris, France wasn't especially pleasant with no heat, rationing, etc. Charles gives directions to a pair of American soldiers and is gifted a box of pancake mix. He is thrilled at the prospect of having crepes for Mardi Gras, just like BEFORE. But...the directions are in English. The bulk of the story is about Charles trying to figure out how to accomplish this miracle for his family. Are there steretypes? Um, possibly, but I think I can let them skate due to the historical reality and Charles' lack of familiarity (Aunt Jemima on the pancake box and the African American doorman). I read this for my 2019 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book 1948).

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story about a series of simple acts of kindness and generosity that helped a family feel a piece of the joy that had been lost from "before." Before the war. Before there was rationing and deprivation and loss. It was fun to find an image online of a box of Aunt Jemima pancake mix from the 1940s that exactly matched the description in the book, and although the book does use the outdated descriptor "negro" (it was written in 1947), I appreciated the lack of prejudice. Charles, the main character, deduces that the black porter at the door of the American Embassy must be the ambassador, due to his fancy clothing and his kindness. Lizzie doesn't often give books 5* ratings, but was quick to do it for this one.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a delightful surprise. I had no idea what to expect from the odd title. This is a story about a Parisian boy shortly after World War II. His father was captive in Germany and made it home, but died soon after. There is a severe lack of everything in Paris, which the book makes clear in gentle ways, like mentioning match day, the one day a month they are able to buy matches, and the children's frequent conversations about BEFORE, which younger children don't believe. Charles helps two American soldiers find the street they were looking for. He won't accept any money from them, so instead they give him a box of pancake mix for Mardi Gras. Charles has to go to a lot of work to figure out the instructions, but a joyous celebration is the reward.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

In such a short story, the author portrays the unfortunate consequences of war from the eyes of young Charles Dumont. Living in Paris, Charles reminisces with his friends about how wonderful life was "before" to the befuddlement of his younger sister, who has no recollection of all that was missing as a result of World War II. Charles helps out two American soldiers who offer him the most incredible gift, one that will help him bring some of the joy of life "before" to his widowed mother and sister. An endearing tale.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten yr old Charles helps two American servicemen in Paris locate a specific church. In thanks, they give Charles a box of pancake batter (Aunt Jemima, perhaps?). The following week is Mardi Gras, and Charles wants to make pancakes (crepes) for his mother and sister as they celebrated before the war. The problem is that the directions on the box are in English. Can Charles solve the problem and surprise his family?
A quick, fun read. Historical setting and conditions gives a sense for the lack and the memories of how it had been. Newbery honor.

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bishop's picture book uses a sweet story to provide a glimpse of the difficulties of life in Paris immediately following WWII. We see the hardship, but it is couched in a young boy's unembittered ingenuity, helpfulness, and love for his family.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun story about a young boy who is gifted with a box of pancake mix in post World War II France. It was definitely a unique way to teach about conditions in France after the war.

[Desiree']

1948 Newbery honor book

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of children in Paris are sitting in the street talking about the food they miss when a couple American soldiers, Jimmy and John, ask Charles to help them find a church. As a thank you, on of them gives him a box of pancakes. The family is so poor they hardly have any soap, their living conditions are dirty, and their soup is rutabaga and water. Charles goes to the American Embassy to get someone to tell him the directions on the pancake box. A woman at the embassy gets him directions in French, and he sees the American soldiers again. They give him a ride in a jeep to pick up his sister, Zezette. Charles plans to make pancakes for his Mother and sister for Mardi Gras, but he has no butter to grease the pan. Suddenly Jimmy and John show up with lots of food and insist on helping make the meal. They invited Charles's friends in to join.

I love this story. I love a story where people who are better off help others who are less fortunate than themselves. (I also love pancakes.) Reading about how difficult life was like for the people of Paris who had next to nothing makes me appreciate how much we have now, makes me realize how much there is to be grateful for even when things seem challenging. We have so much in our country. Even people at the poverty level here still have more than eighty percent of the rest of the world. We really do have so much to be thankful for.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a young, fatherless family living in Paris just after WWII. They have dreams, and one of them is to have crepes for Mardi Gras. With the help of some friendly American soldiers, and a translator at the embassy, their dreams are sort-of fulfilled.

It's a cute story, and although it only took me 20 minutes to read, it made my eyes get a little wet. Yep. Fun book and definitely worth the time it takes.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did a great job of setting the scene of impoverished wartime France in a short amount of time. The main character, Charles, is likable and I felt sympathetic toward him. He and his friends talk about what life was like BEFORE the war and I felt the longing that the characters have for that time. The resolution is satisfying but it smacks, slightly, as propagandist. There are some racial stereotypes to deal with if one is reading the book with a youngster.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful story about people coming together in post-war France to eat pancakes and help remember the time BEFORE. Yes, mother, it was at EOU.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aftermath of WWII in Paris, not enough of anything from 'before'. A young boy befriends some American GIs. ENjoyed this simple story which looks at life after the end of a war through young eyes.

[Sherry]

Newbery Honor 1948

[Reader2007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

=)