Like Butter on Pancakes

by Jonathan London, G. Brian Karas

It is another morning on the farm, and all the animals, including the roosters and the horses, are wide awake and waiting for their breakfast, in a colorfully illustrated story for young children. Reprint.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Jonathan London is the author of several celebrated children's books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. He is the author of more than 70 children's books, many of which are about nature. He's also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives in Graton, California with his wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

First light melts
like butter on pancakes,
spreads warm and yellow
across your pillow.

From sunup to sundown, we spend a happy day with a little boy as he wakes, eats, plays, and heads back to bed. I love Karas' warm and friendly illustrations.

After supper
the night creeps in
and the moon spills milk
for the cat to drink.

[Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I lick it

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story about the entire day a little boy goes through. And throughout the day the author uses expressive words and phrases (such like the title) to describe these events. "First light melts like butter on pancakes, spreads warm and yellow across your pillow." and "The day has begun and till the day is done the sun ticks the birds talk" very nice way of exploring the world seen through a child (and on a farm at that). A nice 'bedtime' book as well...as the story starts when the little boy is getting up then takes them through breakfast, playing, lunch, playing so more, then bedtime and 'good night'. The pace of the reading slows down as the day draws to a close the author did a very good job at using the right words to excite during the day but then slow down and relax for night.

[Kaitlyn Kluesner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a boy who starts his day by eating pancakes. The story then explains what he does the rest of the day. I liked this book because my favorite breakfast food is pancakes as well. This was a cute story that readers of all ages would enjoy.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

London Odyssey #59
Nice little story describing life really.
Nothing overtly memorable, and I think it would fade from memory pretty quickly, but it could be the favourite of some readers who would love to hear it over and over again.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute and inventive book. I absolutely love the artistry of the drawings and the poetic speech.

[Cristina Quattrone]

Nice tool for teaching figurative language

[Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the simple poetic rhythm of this book and the instant grumble of your stomach as you long for that so-far feeling of waking up in a sunny room and smelling pancakes and bacon already on the stove. Oh, the magic of children's books.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my quiet, gentle storytime book for "Just Eat It" The author paints a beautiful image of the world waking ("First light melts like butter on pancakes, spreads warm and yellow across your pillow") and follows a small boy through breakfast and the rest of his day until it is "Beyond the rim of evening, the sun sleeps; the birds, too." We did the fingerplay, "Make a Pancake" with it.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Butter on Pancakes is the story of a farm boy who likens the day-to-day activites to the rising and setting of the sun. Butter melting on pancakes is like the rising sun...

Used for "Snacks: Pop Goes the Corn" storytime-April, 2010.

[Riley Sorem · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is simple and the verse is easy to read and flowy, but it seems a little hard to follow if you are not an adult reading it to a child. The author is wonderful at describing everything to make you feel like you are the one waking up in the morning, instead of the boy in the story.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a totally ridiculous book. It has horrible rhythm and grammar and is just poorly written.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most popular storyhour book I've ever read.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

28 months - Enjoyed this one.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our favorites for bedtime and a great introduction to free verse poetry... "the sun ticks, the birds talk... and the spoons sleep nestled in the kitchen drawer."