My class' favourite (Mr Wolfs Pancakes - Jan Fearnley)

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Product:	Mr Wolfs Pancakes - Jan Fearnley
Date:	17/08/08 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Appeals to children and adults through the subtle humour

Disadvantages: None!

Mr Wolf wants to make some pancakes, but his rude and uncooperative neighbours won't give him any help. Chicken Licken, Wee Willie Winkie, the Ginerbread Man, Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs all give him the brush-off, so in the end he has to make them himself. When it comes to eating them though it's a different story, and everyone wants some. Mr Wolf lives up to his reputation and eats them instead, saving just enough room for his pancakes as well.
This book takes advantage of stories that every child knows. The author uses well-known nursery rhymes and fairy tales and twists them to come up with a brand new tale that should amuse both adults and children. It is through these already-known tales that children can connect with the characters and the new story, and perhaps be more keen to read it themselves.
I don't think children would have any difficulty in reading this book. The text is simple and clear and should not overwhelm a child with reading difficulties. It also provides a good introduction to speech in books, of which there is quite a high percentage. This could be utilised by the teacher to show the correct method of formatting speech in children's own work. The book can also be used to help in the development of vocabulary as there are some words that children might not have encountered in their written form, such as 'recipe' and 'chorused'. These words might mean that a child would need some support to read it, rather than being able to read it independently. The text also does not encourage prediction.
This book is an excellent book to be read aloud. It contains quite a few moments in which the reader can shout out odd bits and really put on a dramatic performance which would delight a listening audience. This is also a great book to sit and look at quietly, perhaps with an adult to guide the session. Looking carefully at the illustrations, there are a lot of sophisticated jokes and play on words that would appeal to adults and children. As I read through this books, there were a couple of illustrations that I actually laughed aloud at, and I think that if children can see that an adult is enjoying a book, they will get more enjoyment out of it as well.
This is the book that I have made a story sack based on. It is a book that lends itself well to this kind of medium, particularly as there are defined sections to the book as he visits his various unhelpful neighbours and makes his pancakes. Hopefully children in my classes will enjoy investigating the sack and the story.
There are also some potential PSHE issues arising from this book that could be discussed with a class, along the lines of helping people who ask for your help, and about sharing your belongings. There is also a feeling that those people who are nasty to others will eventually get their comeuppance.

Summary: Highly recommended!