Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, everyone!

Here on Blueberry Hill, it appears to be bear season.

The other night, my dogs were frantic, and when I looked to see what had set them off, I saw the bear – darker than dark – a shadow moving through the night across the front yard. The next day, one of my neighbors said she had seen him (or her), too. I also saw one wandering down the road a couple weeks ago when I was out walking my dogs in the very early morning.

So of course, with bears on the brain, I chose a book with a bear in it for this week’s selection. Even better, this book has pancakes in it, which, as you know, is a type of cake. And you know how I feel about cake 😊 Get ready for some mischievous fun 😊

Title: Plenty Of Pancakes

Written By: Carrie Finison

Illustrated By: Brianne Farley

ISBN#: 978-0593700174

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books For Young Readers, January 27, 2026, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3-7

Themes/Topics: mischief, post-hibernation, perseverance, rhyme

text copyright Carrie Finison 2026, illustration copyright Brianne Farley 2026, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

Opening:

“Early one morning, as spring breezes blow,
Topsy hauls bags through the fast-melting snow.

She quickly unpacks, and then studies her plan –
a “Welcome, Spring” feast for her good friend LouAnn.”

text copyright Carrie Finison 2026, illustration copyright Brianne Farley 2026, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Opossum Topsy is preparing a “Welcome Spring!” meal for her bear friend LouAnn, who has been asleep all winter long. She’s brought milk, eggs, berries, and syrup, and soon she has five perfect pancakes, fresh from the pan. But when Topsy’s back is turned—MUNCH! MUNCH! MUNCH!—she discovers someone has eaten all of the pancakes! No problem, she’ll just make more, counting out five at a time. But then, it happens again! Who could the thief be?

Whether it’s squirrels, or crows, or someone else swiping the food, Topsy knows she doesn’t have much time left before hungry LouAnn wakes up. And it will take the help of all her animal friends to get the feast done in time. Can they make enough pancakes to feed everyone?”

text copyright Carrie Finison 2026, illustration copyright Brianne Farley 2026, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

Links To Resources: Recipe for 4-Ingredient Banana Pancakes; what are some things you like to put in your pancakes? Apples and cinnamon? Blueberries? Strawberries? Banana slices? Chocolate chips? Do you like them plain? Or with butter, maple syrup, or honey? Try making pancakes for breakfast or dinner and experiment with different things to put in them! Fun Bear Facts for Kids

text copyright Carrie Finison 2026, illustration copyright Brianne Farley 2026, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

text copyright Carrie Finison 2026, illustration copyright Brianne Farley 2026, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

text copyright Carrie Finison 2026, illustration copyright Brianne Farley 2026, G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

Why I Like This Book: I love everything about this book 😊 It’s a sweet story with a little mischief and a little mystery. It’s written in perfect rhyme that is such fun to read aloud, and has a refrain that kids can join in on. It’s spring, so you get a little reminder that bears are about to wake up from hibernation (and if you didn’t know that before, as you might not if you’re 3 or 4 😊 you’ll learn something new.) And Topsy the opossum, experiences the frustration that will be familiar to many young readers of trying very hard to do something and having it fail to work out as planned many times over, but in an entertaining way. The art is delightful – cozy and warm and full of the friendship the animals share. You will probably end up wanting to make pancakes after this one 😊

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊