Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast

June 22, 2015
What initially looks like a cozy refrigerator tête-à-tête quickly becomes a no-holds-barred competition as Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast race through a landscape of leftovers as they try to secure the last drop of maple syrup. Newcomer Funk’s rhymes never skip a beat (though, at one point, Lady Pancake does skip over two beets), and he delights in transforming the fridge and its contents into an arena filled with perils: “Caught behind dressings, one Russian, one Ranch,/ she squeezed out and started a bean... avalanche!” Kearney (Flying Machines) is equally inspired, personifying nearly every foodstuff with dot eyes and a U-shaped smile, while also giving the competitors a playfully regal air, even as they become stained with jelly and chili. It’s a classic case of the journey outshining the destination—the race is so silly and fun that readers may feel let down by the villain who swoops in to snag the syrup and the halfhearted nods toward friendship and sharing that close out the story. Ages 5–up. Author’s agent: Kathleen Rushall, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agency: Plum Pudding Illustration.

June 15, 2015
A tale of "to-go" food that is good for you! What happens between pancakes and French toast when there is only one drop of syrup left? Readers get a ringside seat when the refrigerator door closes and the food comes to life. Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast take off on an edible version of American Ninja, running and rappelling through all the major food groups, each determined to reach the syrup first. The competition is fierce, as Toast plops into a vat of jam, and Pancake get sucked into chili-based muck. As the two royals skip through the Broccoli Forest and sail across soupy seas, the chilly interior of the refrigerator morphs into a true Hunger Games arena. While the rhyming meter is a bit tricky and may require practice before reading aloud, Kearney's illustrations kick butter, with full command of the story's arc. The bean avalanche is a trippy wonder that will be replayed at many dinner tables. The vibrant colors on simple backgrounds keep the action at the forefront, while the acrobatic rhymes tackle the next hurdle. Though not a nutritional guide, this serving of breakfast foods provides a heaping side of verbs. Teachers and students alike will delight in this food fight. Who will be the winner? Readers will be hungry to find out. (Picture book. 4-8)

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January 1, 2016
There's little syrup left, so refrigerator leftovers Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast race "through Broccoli Forest, past Orange Juice Fountain," and on to get the last drop, only to be bested by Baron von Waffle. This silly offering is deceptively clever, from its near-faultless rhymes to its resourceful illustrations (who knew a lettuce leaf can double as a mini parachute?).

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)