Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Cook in a Book: Pancakes! by Lotta Nieminen

This isn't really a board book, but since that's the closest thing that's where I'm putting it. The subtitle is "an interactive recipe book" and that's exactly what it is!

In colorful, minimal art the book instructs the readers to collect ingredients, measure, stir, pour and cook and create pancakes! Along the way there are various movable items, like pull tabs to show milk or sugar being poured into the mix, spinners for stirring, and even a pop out pancake that can be flipped over to show a cooked or uncooked side.

The binding isn't quite as sturdy as I'd like, but the pages themselves are thick, strong cardboard and all the movable parts look like they will last through many eager little fingers (I expect the pancake piece to disappear quickly though).

How to use this book? Well, of course you can use it to follow the recipe and create delicious pancakes! It would also be create to introduce kids to processes, to inspire imaginative kitchen play, and for a pancake storytime with the kids following the actions and taking turns on the movable pieces, depending on the size of your group.

Verdict: An unusual but fun title that is sure to be a hit in your library (if you don't mind washing off a few pancake stains now and then...)

ISBN: 9780714872834; Published 2016 by Phaidon Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium