The Pancake Problem

The Pancake Problem, a graphic novel for early readers, is the second installment following the story of a wiener dog (appropriately named “Weenie”) and his friends, Frank the cat and Beans, a guinea pig, that readers first met in Mad About Meatloaf. All are under the care of their owner, Bob. One day, Weenie wakes up incredibly hungry but hesitates to wake Bob due to his “number one rule” to not wake him on weekends. Much debate ensues between the characters, but Beans sticks to his guns and advises to definitely not wake Bob. Weenie does not heed Beans’ advice and convinces everyone that a sleeping Bob is instead a horrible monster. When Bob refuses to wake up, as “he is sometimes grumpy when hungry wiener dogs wake him up at the crack of dawn”, the trio decides to make pancakes for themselves with Weenie’s supersonic pancake maker. But when the pancake maker instead produces a mountain of Brussels sprouts, panic ensues.

True to form, Weenie devises a plan – to have a yard sale with the intent of selling the odorous pile of sprouts, along with a few of Bob’s “old knickknacks” (unfortunately for Bob, real items that he uses every day). When a potential buyer of the sprouts does not show the requisite level of sincerity in Weenie’s opinion, his new plan is to insist his pile of sprouts is actually a work of art. Once it is accepted as a new installation at a gallery, Weenie and friends spy a giant stack of pancakes, also a “work of art”, which quickly disappears as Weenie satisfies his hunger. Stuck again with the sprouts, the dejected group heads home only to discover that Bob will happily eat them, and, “as a special thank you, [he’s] made everybody pancakes.” All’s well that ends well until Bob discovers one of his sold “knickknacks” was actually his television! Queue up the next troublesome adventure for Weenie and his friends.

The Pancake Problem is a delightfully fast-paced book filled with hilarity and trepidation as readers will root for the troublesome threesome. The requisite potty words will appeal to the younger set, with many occasions for laughs peppered throughout. The cells are interspersed with informative and charming diagrams, definitions, and lists. Each page presents an explosion of appealing colours, with bright greens, blues, and oranges standing out. Readers will enjoy studying the illustrations for the amazing treasure trove of details each cell contains. The gallerist’s disdainful expression is but one example of the level of detail that is appreciated by savvy young readers and adults alike. The Pancake Problem is a must-buy for all children’s graphic novel collections.