THE PANCAKE PROBLEM

Slow-witted but sweet Weenie the dachshund’s hunger creates chaos for him and his pals, sarcastic Frank the cat and gentle Beans the guinea pig.

Weenie is hungry (actually, he’s famished), but his owner Bob’s No. 1 rule is “Never, ever, ever wake Bob up early on the weekend.” (Bob’s No. 2 rule is “Always follow Bob’s number one rule.”) Confused, Weenie decides to wake Bob to explain the rules, except…Bob isn’t in his bed. There’s just a Bob-shaped lump that sounds and smells like their owner. Weenie is positive the lump is a monster that has eaten Bob. Fortunately, it turns out the lump is Bob…but after a rude awakening, he’s unwilling to make Weenie pancakes, so Weenie turns to his invention, the Supersonic Pancake Maker. However, the machine makes Brussels sprouts instead, and Weenie, Frank, and Beans are bombarded by the veggies—unfortunately, Weenie didn’t invent an off switch. The trio’s efforts to dispose of the smelly sprouts fail hilariously, but all’s well that ends well. Ideal for budding readers, this quick-moving, action-packed graphic novel features exaggerated cartoonish illustrations. Text density varies from page to page, and fun details—a close-up of Bob’s calendar, a diagram of a wiener dog’s stomachs (the better to gobble pancakes, Bob’s shoes, and couch cushions)—add humor. Bob is light-skinned; other human characters are diverse.

A fast-paced narrative infused with silliness that will keep new readers giggling and turning pages.