HOW TO MAKE A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH IN 17 EASY STEPS

Pea-nuts to you!

Lovers of peanut butter sandwiches—or, more accurately, peanut butter and banana sandwiches—won’t be able to follow each step of the “recipe” herein exactly, but they’ll savor this rollicking how-to guide nonetheless. All the better if genuine peanut butter sandwiches (with or without bananas) are ready for scarfing down after reading. A page of necessary “ingredients” precedes the steps to be followed, and it’s a sure bet readers will have never encountered most of them before in their own sandwich-making prep: four wooden clogs, one raccoon, two crows, one skunk, one skateboard, one accordion, one hat with a brim, and four mice. (It’s OK; all makes perfect sense by the end, and not all the “ingredients” are actually in the sandwiches.) As with any good recipe, each part of the process is easy to follow; the text is uncomplicated, with each step following one after the other in logical order. The lively, comical illustrations aid comprehension and enhance enjoyment. Important points to highlight: The foods used in the sandwiches are fresh and organic, and the story emphasizes working together in the spirit of camaraderie. The neighborly animal characters accept and celebrate each other’s differences—an excellent message to share with children. Human background characters are racially diverse.

A winning recipe: delightful illustrations, a clever story, and food!