When Mommy Mouse heads out to do some shopping, Max is left in charge of his four younger siblings, and he sets out to make them some pancakes. Discovering to his surprise and disappointment that he hasn't made enough for everyone, he forgoes his own pancake, until his siblings each share a piece of their own with him. There's even a piece left over for Mommy Mouse, when she comes home...

Originally published in Japan as ほっとほっとホットケーキ メイプルシロップのにおいつき! (literally, "Hot Hot Cake: The Smell of Syrup"), Hot Hot Pancakes is a cute story about sharing. Apparently, in the original edition there was also a "scratch and sniff" element, but Montreal-based CrackBoom! Books, who had this translated into both English and French, did not retain that element of the book. This English-language edition did retain the half-pages however, divided vertically rather than horizontally, allowing the reader to see the before and after when Max mixes his pancake ingredients, and then cooks them. There is also a recipe for pancakes included at the rear. All in all, although not precisely to my taste, aesthetically speaking - the artwork was just a bit too cartoonish for me - this one was still rather sweet, and it imparts a wholesome message. It also contains some interactive elements that will no doubt keep young children entertained. Recommended to picture-book readers in the market for stories about sharing to give this one a try, especially if they are also interested in Japanese children's books. ( )