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Marsupial Sue #2
Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake"
"I'm too fast, you're too slow. Pan, pan, patty-cake pan, I can get away from you, I can!"
The much-loved story of the Runaway Pancake who pops out of the oven and is sure he can escape all who want to eat him, is given a new spin when Marsupial Sue and her friends put on a play version for their neighborhood. This has all of the wit and whimsy of Marsupial Sue and again features lively illustrations by Jack E. Davis. From the friends' preparations behind the scenes to the actors' final bows, readers will be inspired by the production. A CD recording of John Lithgow's live performance of the song "The Runaway Pancake" is also included.
The much-loved story of the Runaway Pancake who pops out of the oven and is sure he can escape all who want to eat him, is given a new spin when Marsupial Sue and her friends put on a play version for their neighborhood. This has all of the wit and whimsy of Marsupial Sue and again features lively illustrations by Jack E. Davis. From the friends' preparations behind the scenes to the actors' final bows, readers will be inspired by the production. A CD recording of John Lithgow's live performance of the song "The Runaway Pancake" is also included.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2005
About the author
John Lithgow
105 books316 followersJohn Lithgow is a prolific actor with two Tonys, six Emmys, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations to his name. He has starred in the hit TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, and The Crown, and in beloved films like The World According to Garp, Shrek, and Terms of Endearment. Lithgow has appeared on Broadway twenty-five times and in England with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He is also the bestselling author of nine children’s picture books, and his recordings for kids have landed him four Grammy nominations.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 24, 2017
On the final week of every school year, I treat my class to a pancake breakfast where I create a cooking station and go to town right in the room. It's a favorite day of mine, as it's so much fun to do something so different and enjoy their reaction. After everyone has been served and they finish up their food, milk, and clean up, we enjoy this book. It's the best pancake-themed book around! How about that distinction? What really makes this such a treat is the accompanying narration by John Lithgow. He does a fantastic job - seriously - if sharing this book, put him on cd or play it on Youtube. I love reading books aloud and fancy myself fairly entertaining and talented at it, but Lithgow's voice and narration is perfect for this tale! Until the end of next school year . . .
September 8, 2010
Ellie LOVES this book. It comes with a CD with John Lithgow as the narrator and he is fantastic in the CD. Ellie won't let me read it.
The only thing that bugs me is that it's about a group of animals putting on a play so they are all dressed up as other animals, which could be cute, but is more confusing than anything.
p.s. THANK YOU GMA ANDERSON!!
The only thing that bugs me is that it's about a group of animals putting on a play so they are all dressed up as other animals, which could be cute, but is more confusing than anything.
p.s. THANK YOU GMA ANDERSON!!
November 27, 2018
I use this book all the time with my students at my pre-school and they love it. John Lithgow's voice and presentation of this story is extremely well done and one that always resonates not only with the kids, but with the teachers and adults in the room too. The song is catchy too!
Highly recommend this book for any young classroom setting.
Highly recommend this book for any young classroom setting.
March 31, 2009
The accompanying audio CD as read by John Lithgow is fantastic. I love this dude. Once you read this to/with kids you will be humming the pan pan panny-cake pan song all the time.
June 16, 2019
The kids and I loved this when they were little and we still do! I played just the audio for my preschool class and they all listened so attentively and sang along when they could. Love it!
March 19, 2012
Perhaps better known to adults for his stage and screen work, actor John Lithgow has an amazing body of work for children. His picture books are some of my (and my children’s) absolute favorites!
Topping the list for me is The Remarkable Farkle McBride. The story centers around a young boy who is a musical prodigy. He is able to master instrument after instrument with ease, but throws each one away as he becomes bored with it. Through an unfortunate illness on the part of the orchestra conductor one evening, Farkle discovers that it is the sound and experience of ALL the instruments together which brings him joy, as opposed to the mastery of an individual instrument.
The illustrations by C.E. Payne are amazing in their vibrancy and humor. (They remind me of David Catrow with slightly more realistic human facial features.) The text is extremely exciting for several reasons: (1) the melody and rhythm of the words lends itself to read-alouds; (2) the language, while being the opposite of condescending to young readers, is still challenging in vocabulary with words like “beseeching,” “rhapsodical” and “bombastic”; (3) the text contains multiple original examples of onomonapoeia when describing instruments, which offers an excellent opportunity to teach both that specific literary technique, and as an introduction to language as sound, music, and poetry.
The story of Micawber again sees the same team of author and illustrator relate the story of a squirrel who lives in Central Park and enjoys going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One afternoon he sees an art student copying one of the artworks on the wall. This is the first time it has ever occurred to him to think about how the paintings were created in the first place. Intrigued, he stows away in her satchel and accompanies the young student home. Once she is asleep, Micawber, for the first time, experiments with her paints. Using his tail as a brush, he creates his own masterpiece, ties it up with one of the student’s shoelaces and returns home. Once back in Central Park, he converts the upper floor of a carousel into an art museum for the other animals where he shows his growing collection of original canvases.
The same things that are wonderful and thrilling about Farkle exist here in this story about the visual arts. The vocabulary includes words such as “peregrination” and “viridian”. Payne is just as delightful in his illustrations, particularly the image where the student has discovered her shoe–without its shoelace.
Marsupial Sue and Marsupial Sue presents the Runaway Pancake, I’m a Manatee, Mahalia Mouse Goes to College, I Got Two Dogs are additional works by Lithgow.
The Marsupial Sue books are about a kangaroo that wants to be something MORE than a kangaroo, but after traveling to many other areas and trying the ways of several different animals, she determines that being a kangaroo is EXACTLY who and what she wants to be.
I Got Two Dogs is a simple, delightful rhyme about the author’s two dogs with colorful collage-ish illustrations similar in style to those of Todd Parr. I’m a Manatee is a fun, imaginative tale of a boy and a manatee. It can be used for children who are already familiar with and interested in the manatee, or as an introduction to the animal, as well as the dangers to its existence. In my opinion, Mahalia Mouse is the weakest of all his picture books, but it is still a nice little story–just not anything exceptional.
All of Lithgow’s books come with CDs when sold in hardcover. The author usually sings the text of each story on the CD which is great to use at bedtime or in the car.
Lithgow also has music CDs available, which I use at home with my own children, and for my theatre and dance classes. There is an entire Farkle and Friends CD which includes the story of Farkle as well as other pieces of music highlighting orchestral instruments, styles and sounds.
The CDs On the Sunny Side of the Street and Singin’ in the Bathtub contain Broadway and jazz-style songs for children. Some are children’s songs, some songs have the lyrics altered to be extremely silly and appeal specifically to children (and those of us who love music and are children at heart). They are harder to find in retail outlets, but easy to purchase from amazon.com, etc.
Lithgow’s work is for ANYONE who loves language, stories or the arts. I think they are truly brilliant and stand among some of my very favorite books. I highly recommend his work for independent and read-aloud selections.
Topping the list for me is The Remarkable Farkle McBride. The story centers around a young boy who is a musical prodigy. He is able to master instrument after instrument with ease, but throws each one away as he becomes bored with it. Through an unfortunate illness on the part of the orchestra conductor one evening, Farkle discovers that it is the sound and experience of ALL the instruments together which brings him joy, as opposed to the mastery of an individual instrument.
The illustrations by C.E. Payne are amazing in their vibrancy and humor. (They remind me of David Catrow with slightly more realistic human facial features.) The text is extremely exciting for several reasons: (1) the melody and rhythm of the words lends itself to read-alouds; (2) the language, while being the opposite of condescending to young readers, is still challenging in vocabulary with words like “beseeching,” “rhapsodical” and “bombastic”; (3) the text contains multiple original examples of onomonapoeia when describing instruments, which offers an excellent opportunity to teach both that specific literary technique, and as an introduction to language as sound, music, and poetry.
The story of Micawber again sees the same team of author and illustrator relate the story of a squirrel who lives in Central Park and enjoys going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One afternoon he sees an art student copying one of the artworks on the wall. This is the first time it has ever occurred to him to think about how the paintings were created in the first place. Intrigued, he stows away in her satchel and accompanies the young student home. Once she is asleep, Micawber, for the first time, experiments with her paints. Using his tail as a brush, he creates his own masterpiece, ties it up with one of the student’s shoelaces and returns home. Once back in Central Park, he converts the upper floor of a carousel into an art museum for the other animals where he shows his growing collection of original canvases.
The same things that are wonderful and thrilling about Farkle exist here in this story about the visual arts. The vocabulary includes words such as “peregrination” and “viridian”. Payne is just as delightful in his illustrations, particularly the image where the student has discovered her shoe–without its shoelace.
Marsupial Sue and Marsupial Sue presents the Runaway Pancake, I’m a Manatee, Mahalia Mouse Goes to College, I Got Two Dogs are additional works by Lithgow.
The Marsupial Sue books are about a kangaroo that wants to be something MORE than a kangaroo, but after traveling to many other areas and trying the ways of several different animals, she determines that being a kangaroo is EXACTLY who and what she wants to be.
I Got Two Dogs is a simple, delightful rhyme about the author’s two dogs with colorful collage-ish illustrations similar in style to those of Todd Parr. I’m a Manatee is a fun, imaginative tale of a boy and a manatee. It can be used for children who are already familiar with and interested in the manatee, or as an introduction to the animal, as well as the dangers to its existence. In my opinion, Mahalia Mouse is the weakest of all his picture books, but it is still a nice little story–just not anything exceptional.
All of Lithgow’s books come with CDs when sold in hardcover. The author usually sings the text of each story on the CD which is great to use at bedtime or in the car.
Lithgow also has music CDs available, which I use at home with my own children, and for my theatre and dance classes. There is an entire Farkle and Friends CD which includes the story of Farkle as well as other pieces of music highlighting orchestral instruments, styles and sounds.
The CDs On the Sunny Side of the Street and Singin’ in the Bathtub contain Broadway and jazz-style songs for children. Some are children’s songs, some songs have the lyrics altered to be extremely silly and appeal specifically to children (and those of us who love music and are children at heart). They are harder to find in retail outlets, but easy to purchase from amazon.com, etc.
Lithgow’s work is for ANYONE who loves language, stories or the arts. I think they are truly brilliant and stand among some of my very favorite books. I highly recommend his work for independent and read-aloud selections.
January 17, 2013
Mommy's review from 11/2/11 -
4.5 - John Lithgow is a genius! I think the first book we read by him was Micawber and we both loved, loved, loved it. Soon after that we read I Got Two Dogs which neither of us especially cared for and then we got around to Mahalia Mouse Goes to College: Book and CD which was somewhere in the middle. (We're in complete agreement on his books which doesn't always happen.) I can't remember if we've read I'm a Manatee:. If we did we must not have loved it or hated it because I'd probably remember it.
But this, this is *almost* as good, if not as good, as Micawber. I'll usually pick up a children's book by a celebrity just to see if they have any talent but when we found the audio of Micawber at the library I never noticed who the author was. After reading it at home I noticed the author pic on the back and recognized Lithgow. Needless to say I was very surprised.
This could have been too repetitive if it weren't so much fun to read and listen to. My only complaint - and I don't know if this is true of all the audio versions - was that the audio edition we listened to while following along in the book was recorded live. While that does have a certain charm it was also annoying. The reading didn't go exactly as the book goes. It didn't differ so much that it affected the story really, but when following along in a book with a child learning to read I'd like the spoken word to follow the written. Again, not a huge deal.
We both loved the illustrations by Jack E. Davis also - totally awesome with this story. The pancake was fantastically portrayed too.
4.5 - John Lithgow is a genius! I think the first book we read by him was Micawber and we both loved, loved, loved it. Soon after that we read I Got Two Dogs which neither of us especially cared for and then we got around to Mahalia Mouse Goes to College: Book and CD which was somewhere in the middle. (We're in complete agreement on his books which doesn't always happen.) I can't remember if we've read I'm a Manatee:. If we did we must not have loved it or hated it because I'd probably remember it.
But this, this is *almost* as good, if not as good, as Micawber. I'll usually pick up a children's book by a celebrity just to see if they have any talent but when we found the audio of Micawber at the library I never noticed who the author was. After reading it at home I noticed the author pic on the back and recognized Lithgow. Needless to say I was very surprised.
This could have been too repetitive if it weren't so much fun to read and listen to. My only complaint - and I don't know if this is true of all the audio versions - was that the audio edition we listened to while following along in the book was recorded live. While that does have a certain charm it was also annoying. The reading didn't go exactly as the book goes. It didn't differ so much that it affected the story really, but when following along in a book with a child learning to read I'd like the spoken word to follow the written. Again, not a huge deal.
We both loved the illustrations by Jack E. Davis also - totally awesome with this story. The pancake was fantastically portrayed too.
June 8, 2014
Title: Marsupial Sue presents The Runaway Pancake
Author: John Lithgow
Illustrator: Jack E. Davis
Date of Publication: 2005
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
Marsupial Sue and her friends put on a play retelling story of the Gingerbread Man. In their story, a pancake pops out of the oven and makes a run for it, sure he can escape everyone who comes in his way wanting to eat him. He is able to run away from six people before encountering the sly fox where he is finally outsmarted and meets his demise.
Evaluation:
This is such a fun story! This would be a great read-aloud for younger grades as the repetition and rhyme schemes can be chanted together in class. It also seems like a great way to introduce folktales to younger children. The context of the story inside of a play is a new element that creates a different dynamic that could broaden the discussion after reading as well. The illustrations are awesome as they remind the reader that the story is being acted out as a play within the text. Without the support of the illustrations, it would be easy to forget that there is a play going on--very cool!
Discussion Questions:
1. How did the fox outsmart the pancake?
2. Can you provide an example of how you tricked someone?
3. How did the illustrations help remind you that Marsupial Sue and her friends were putting on a play?
Author: John Lithgow
Illustrator: Jack E. Davis
Date of Publication: 2005
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
Marsupial Sue and her friends put on a play retelling story of the Gingerbread Man. In their story, a pancake pops out of the oven and makes a run for it, sure he can escape everyone who comes in his way wanting to eat him. He is able to run away from six people before encountering the sly fox where he is finally outsmarted and meets his demise.
Evaluation:
This is such a fun story! This would be a great read-aloud for younger grades as the repetition and rhyme schemes can be chanted together in class. It also seems like a great way to introduce folktales to younger children. The context of the story inside of a play is a new element that creates a different dynamic that could broaden the discussion after reading as well. The illustrations are awesome as they remind the reader that the story is being acted out as a play within the text. Without the support of the illustrations, it would be easy to forget that there is a play going on--very cool!
Discussion Questions:
1. How did the fox outsmart the pancake?
2. Can you provide an example of how you tricked someone?
3. How did the illustrations help remind you that Marsupial Sue and her friends were putting on a play?
September 13, 2013
This books was very fun, but I listened to it with the LIVE John Lithgow CD and I just can't imagine reading it the plain old boring way...you have to hear him sing the song and tell the story. If I would have just read the story I would given it a 3 star, but to hear the song and the fun and his inflections made it a 4 for me....
After looking at the book again I see that the illustrations are of a play that Marsupial Sue is doing. I wondered why the wolf had what looked like a quilted ears...now I get it..."The Cast of Characters : Narrator- Adelaide Rabbit, Auntie May- Marsupial Sue; Old Dog Tray-Bartholomew Koala; Cow- Sydney Wombat; Donkey, Winifred Wallaby; Wolf Perth Platypus; Bear- Melbourne Sheep; Fox- Neville, the Tasmanian Devil' Stage Manager-Collie Dundee." I very Australian book LOL
Okay if I had read it I would still give it a 4 star.
"And you would think that was the end of the story.... NO!" (It teases you the last few pages. The last page offers a tad of a chuckle! )
After looking at the book again I see that the illustrations are of a play that Marsupial Sue is doing. I wondered why the wolf had what looked like a quilted ears...now I get it..."The Cast of Characters : Narrator- Adelaide Rabbit, Auntie May- Marsupial Sue; Old Dog Tray-Bartholomew Koala; Cow- Sydney Wombat; Donkey, Winifred Wallaby; Wolf Perth Platypus; Bear- Melbourne Sheep; Fox- Neville, the Tasmanian Devil' Stage Manager-Collie Dundee." I very Australian book LOL
Okay if I had read it I would still give it a 4 star.
"And you would think that was the end of the story.... NO!" (It teases you the last few pages. The last page offers a tad of a chuckle! )
November 30, 2010
1st- 3rd
What would you do if you saw a pancake run away from you? Where do you think it goes? Well this pancake's adventure is wild. He takes off and helps all of his friends put on a play. The play is one crazy time for the pancake. With Jack E. Davis's illustrations the reader gets into the story. This story is also accompanied with a Cd for struggling readers to listen while reading.
Students while reading can be asked to predict what would happen next by using the in text clues. This is a good book to help students understand how to make predication and then see them fold out.
What would you do if you saw a pancake run away from you? Where do you think it goes? Well this pancake's adventure is wild. He takes off and helps all of his friends put on a play. The play is one crazy time for the pancake. With Jack E. Davis's illustrations the reader gets into the story. This story is also accompanied with a Cd for struggling readers to listen while reading.
Students while reading can be asked to predict what would happen next by using the in text clues. This is a good book to help students understand how to make predication and then see them fold out.
June 23, 2013
I love this book, the joy and laughter that comes from the children is contagious. I have read this book to my students, let them listen to the cd readaloud and they can't get enough of it. The story is a retelling of The Gingerbread Man, but instead of a gingerbread man cookie, it's a pancake trying to get away from all the characters in the story. This could be used in the classroom when discussing and learning about folktales. The pictures are so full of details, down to a fly carrying a suitcase to get away from the big bad fox. I would recommend this book for the classroom and at home for personal enjoyment.
February 12, 2014
In The Runaway Pancake, a pancake stars in his own play which is reminiscent of the gingerbread man. The illustrations depict the story as a theatre production, but elaborates on the adventure of the Runaway Pancake with detailed drawings and humorous characters. Although young children will enjoy the repetitive chants and predictable storyline, the dialogue can become wordy at times, which may not be suitable for young readers. The rich colors and vivid drawings are very entertaining and add personality to the characters. As a read aloud, this book would be wonderful for young students as they learn to engage with literature.
March 10, 2015
Scott read this to Alice exactly once before I read it to her, and she had the story damn near memorized. She loves this one! The story is about a stage production of a story called the runaway pancake, in which a pancake escapes from an oven like a Gingerbread Man and then runs across the countryside eluding various animals who would like to make it lunch. The part Alice loved so much and continues to sing in reference to the book is: No no, no no no, I'm too fast, you're too slow. Pan pan pattycake pan. I got away from (lists animals each time a new one is added). I can get away from you I can. It is so much fun to read together. A super find!
November 24, 2016
Appropriate grade level: K-2
John Lithgow sings a song about a runaway pancake. The pancake doesn't want to be eaten, and sings a song as they are running away from people. It's presented as a play by Marsupial Sue, who is character from another popular Lithgow book.
Who knew that the dude from 3rd Rock from the Sun made children's books? I certainly didn't. This was another book I discovered while working as a Kindergarten assistant teacher in D.C. The CD that you play along with the book is what really brings this book together and the kids loved it!
In class uses: teaching rhyme, teaching rhythm and singing along to a beat.
John Lithgow sings a song about a runaway pancake. The pancake doesn't want to be eaten, and sings a song as they are running away from people. It's presented as a play by Marsupial Sue, who is character from another popular Lithgow book.
Who knew that the dude from 3rd Rock from the Sun made children's books? I certainly didn't. This was another book I discovered while working as a Kindergarten assistant teacher in D.C. The CD that you play along with the book is what really brings this book together and the kids loved it!
In class uses: teaching rhyme, teaching rhythm and singing along to a beat.
February 13, 2011
This book is so cute! It tells the classic story of "the runaway pancake" that gets out of the pan runs away. But, this book has Marsupial Sue and all her friends putting it on as a play, which I was not really aware of until the end! It's so funny and kids love it! The illustrations are also really fun and colorful and the ever changing facial expressions of the pancake are priceless!
If you read this book, be sure to get the CD that comes with it because John Lithgow does an amazing job narrating it with fun voices!
If you read this book, be sure to get the CD that comes with it because John Lithgow does an amazing job narrating it with fun voices!
September 24, 2008
Personally it's tons more difficult to rate children's books, no doubt this one caused me no trouble at all. I think the Cd that came along was absolutely amazing and fantastic all at once.I've always been aware of most of Lithgow's work and never have I came across his books on tape until last night. He is nothing but acing stars and I envy his storytelling skills.After today I can say I will not attempt to read the run away pancake on my own...
August 19, 2009
Sue, a kangaroo, and some of her Australian animal friends put on a play called "The Runaway Pancake." www.hcpl.net
The CD that comes along with this book is very good. This book would work well if you are teaching naritive skills to young children! That being said, I really do not like the text that they used in the book.
Audio Book Blog
http://www.hcpl.net/content/audio-boo...
The CD that comes along with this book is very good. This book would work well if you are teaching naritive skills to young children! That being said, I really do not like the text that they used in the book.
Audio Book Blog
http://www.hcpl.net/content/audio-boo...
June 6, 2016
It wasn't as good as some of the other books by John Lithgow that I've read, but it was alright.
The pancake was annoying, but as the book went on the song he kept singing improved.
My dislike of the book is how unrealistic the wolf was. I mean, he was supposed to be gray, that's how the pancake sang him, but he was purple with purple duck feet for arms and legs. The Fox, who ended up eating the pancake, looked more like the Wolf than the Wolf did.
The pancake was annoying, but as the book went on the song he kept singing improved.
My dislike of the book is how unrealistic the wolf was. I mean, he was supposed to be gray, that's how the pancake sang him, but he was purple with purple duck feet for arms and legs. The Fox, who ended up eating the pancake, looked more like the Wolf than the Wolf did.
April 20, 2008
Have to give this five stars because of my son. He is autistic and usually only reads Dr. Seuss and some select Nick Jr. renditions of classics. But we have been reading this a few times this week with the audio CD. He has stayed focused every time and seems to enjoy the song. Thanks for the recommendation and to Mr. Lithgow (also to the illustrator Jack E. Davis)!
September 15, 2008
A building story that would be fun to read in a story time. But how in the world does this have anything to do with my "Happiness" Book Time theme? Not sure how this came in my search. But I still enjoyed it. I should probably listen to the recording to get the full effect, too. Funny pictures, although the pancakes was a little scary. I loved the characters and their costumes.
September 26, 2010
We've seen many variations on this tale (Gingerbread Man, Musubi Man), so this was a familiar, if slightly different story. We love John Lithgow's stories, and this one did not disappoint. Our girls enjoyed watching this book read aloud on the Tumblebooks website (www.tumblebooks.com).
October 16, 2010
Ages: Grades K-3
A fun take on the Gingerbread man. This book could be used along with a study of prepositions, measurements, or a "how to" unit. Discussions on the book could include: animal traits, greed, and pride. The story the also has a lot of repetation, so the studnets could read (or sing) along with the story.
A fun take on the Gingerbread man. This book could be used along with a study of prepositions, measurements, or a "how to" unit. Discussions on the book could include: animal traits, greed, and pride. The story the also has a lot of repetation, so the studnets could read (or sing) along with the story.
September 16, 2008
Animals are all dressed up to be on the stage. The adorable Play: The Runaway Pancake is on!
This picture book is my secret weapon for entertaining large crowd and restless kids. Even the grown-ups think that the story is funny.
This picture book is my secret weapon for entertaining large crowd and restless kids. Even the grown-ups think that the story is funny.
January 16, 2016
A cast of Australian animals put on a stage play about a run-away pancake. The little song gets progressively harder to sing as the pancake escapes more animals that want to eat it.
Very fun illustrations.
Very fun illustrations.
September 15, 2016
I found this particular telling of the story a little confusing with the illustrations. It took me a few pages to understand what was going on with it being a play starring different animals. The story itself was fun, though.
July 1, 2017
My 5yo came home from kindergarten and immediately asked, "Can you get the runaway pancake book from the library?" They had read it at school and she wanted to read it again. Loved the repetitive song in it.
September 10, 2008
It was a cute book. However,I read a similar version "The Gingerbread Man" by Bonnie Rutherford as a child.
Read
April 10, 2009fun book kind of like the gingerbread man
Read
April 30, 2009This book doesn't entertain children as well by itself as it does when the cd is being used but overall children really love this story.
November 4, 2009
TOO funny!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews