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If You Give... #3

If You Give A Pig A Pancake with audio CD

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"If you give a pig a pancake, she'll want some syrup to go with it..."

If you give a pig a pancake, she'll want some syrup to go with it. You'll give her some of your favorite maple syrup, and she'll probably get all sticky, so she'll want to take a bath. She'll ask you for some bubbles. When you give her the bubbles...

Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond have done it again! In keeping with their best-sellers 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' (1985) and 'If You Give a Moose a Muffin' (1991), chaos is the order of the day when an accommodating little girl who tries to keep up with the whims of a busy little pig.

Fans of 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie' (1985) will love this joyful new addition! This book is a great introduction to the 'If You Give...' Series, and also a perennial favorite among children. With its spare, rhythmic text and circular tale,  'If You Give a Pig a Pancake' (1998)  is perfect for beginning readers and story time. Sure to inspire giggles and requests to "read it again!", as well as entertain and delight readers for generations to come!

Age: Preschool-2+

Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

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8078 people want to read

About the author

Laura Joffe Numeroff

121 books988 followers
Laura Joffe Numeroff is the NYT best-selling author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, What Mommies/Daddies Do Best and Raising a Hero. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Pratt Institute. Laura grew up as the youngest of three girls, surrounded by art, music, and books. An avid animal lover, Laura has always wanted to write a book about service dogs. She now lives in Los Angeles, California.

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5 stars
35,469 (53%)
4 stars
17,257 (25%)
3 stars
10,929 (16%)
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1 star
750 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,326 reviews
Profile Image for Archit.
825 reviews3,200 followers
March 7, 2018
Kids are going to love this If You Give series by Laura Joffe. The fun is to the point. I can really imagine how happy children are going to be when they get to know what happens when they give a pancake to a pig!
Profile Image for Josh Caporale.
363 reviews63 followers
May 5, 2016
THESE are the kinds of children's books I enjoy and feel that children should be reading or having read to them! This is a modern classic that is placed in the series of books that includes "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" and "If You Give a Moose a Muffin." One zany thing leads to another and it is just wacky and hilarious. At the same time, children will almost definitely understand everything that is going on in this "if and then" arrangement. The pig is quite adorable, while also being quite funny herself. This is definitely a children's book that should be in your child's book collection!
Profile Image for Boom!.
247 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2017
My kids absolutely love the If You Give a series by Laura Numeroff . In this installment we meet pig and learn about the chaos that will ensue if we were to give a pig a pancake. The story is fun and silly, the illustrations are cute and appropriate for youngsters.
Profile Image for Libby.
616 reviews154 followers
August 23, 2012
I remember reading this book to Nate and Roxie. Happy memories! How a pancake and syrup can lead to many more requests from a visiting pig. Delightful!
10 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2016
If You Give a Pig a Pancake is a thrilling story about what would happen if you were to give a pig a pancake, and although it seems harmless, this story proves that you would be in for quite the day. The pig would probably want syrup, then a bath, new clothes, to tap dance, wear a costume, send a letter, take a picture, and eventually want a pancake all over again! The main theme of this story is that sometimes when you have lots of demands for someone, it can get crazy and that person gets tired.

I love this story because I personally love pigs, and I think the little illustrations are absolutely hilarious. The pig's facial expressions are so cute, and the illustrations make the story seem that much crazier. I love it when picture books have funny illustrations and I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading this because of the pig's crazy antics.

I would recommend this book to young children, because the story will captivate them and keep them focused, since you are constantly anxious about what happens next. I think this story can also teach young children that their actions affect other people, and can lead to a discussion about using manners and asking for favors instead of demanding them.
Profile Image for Reham.
40 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2014
If you give a pig a pancake:6-8

I liked this story; it gives you so many ideas to work with, such as pancake lesson, Sequence, what comes after each steps. Teach the children very nice things like when you want to send a letter what should you do first, write the letter down, then put it in the envelop and put stamps and take it to the mailbox. Another thing is the tree house, what you need when you want to build one. Also the story shows how much the girl care about her pet.

Learning experience:

Teacher can make cards with pictures with each steps in the story such as pancake, syrup, bath, rubber duck, camera, envelope, tree house; and let the children put the story in order and ask them what happened in each step
Profile Image for Zequoia Hyche.
52 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2014
I think that this book is very expressive in the way that it was both written and illustrated. I like how the events that took place are displayed in sequential order. It helps readers to understand that once the pig has done something, this is what happens next all the way to the end of the book. But what is neat-is that once you reach the end of the book... it sets the story back up as if the sequence would start over again. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the children that I work with seem to love it too. They can almost quote what is going to happen next!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
205 reviews7 followers
January 30, 2018
This book made me exhausted. This is one messy and chaotic pig. I do admire her love of maple syrup. Orianna, on the other hand, seemed a bit mystified by the antics and the girl characters willingness to follow the pig's whims. In the end, the important part is that she understands the relationship between syrup and pancakes. Job done.
Profile Image for Mystic.
40 reviews
November 1, 2017
Good grief, after my nephew shoved this book in my face the fourth time I gave it a whirl. I'm glad I did. The combination of detail in the art and the sweat surrealism in the story made me turn the pages not to convince my nephew, but because I wanted to see where it was going(embarrassing considering it's a children's book!). My nephew enjoyed it and so did I and that's why I recommend you get a copy and find out just what happens If You Give a Pig a Pancake.
Profile Image for Chance Lee.
1,397 reviews156 followers
September 13, 2019
Kids like these books, and the pictures are cute, but they make me want to DIE. Aronfsky's mother! is basically If You Give a Pig a Pancake the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpICo...

I may have written basically the same review about If You Give a Mouse Cookie and/or If You Give a Moose a Muffin, but seriously these books cause me so much anxiety.

SET BOUNDARIES OR THE PIG WILL NEVER LEAVE.

Profile Image for Kathy.
3,127 reviews51 followers
February 13, 2020
The kids love these books, but the original mouse and cookie is my fsvorite
12 reviews
March 9, 2020
Man this pig was nuts lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
52 reviews4 followers
August 29, 2016
1) This kid-friendly fiction book sends the child’s imagination soaring with the detailed pictures and creative storyline of the girl eating pancakes with a pig. This story goes from the girl and the pig eating pancakes to the pig wanting to take a bath and the series of events continues until in the end the pig wants some more pancakes and the girl is so tired because of the day that they have had.
2) Ages 0-5, Kindergarten
3) This book could be used as a first time reader for children with easy words to pronounce, and not many words on each page to intimidate them.
4) Students that are just learning to read might benefit from reading this book
5) This book could be used in small group as a use of learning how to read as previously stated, and children could help each other sound out the words, and work together to read the book. Then at the end of the small groups, everyone could share in front of the class how their literature circle learned to read it as a team.
6) This book could be used in whole class use and read aloud to the class to introduce cause and effect, with the pages always leaving you hanging on what the pig and the girl are about to do and you could have students guess before you turn the page. For example, the pig gets sticky and the girl says then she will want to take a bath, so letting your students guess before gets their minds thinking creatively about what could happen next to the pig.
7) Genre: Fiction, and related books are If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, If You Give A Moose A Muffin, etc. There is a whole series that could be used with literature circles, and each group read one of the books out of the series.
8) There is a audio CD on Amazon with the whole series of books on it which may be beneficial for a classroom.
Profile Image for Katherine Austin.
50 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2016
1) Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
-If You Give a Pig a Pancake is a story about what happens when, like like the title suggests, give a pig a pancake. This little pig gets a pancake, but that's not enough she wants some maple syrup to go with it. However, the syrup made the pig sticky so now he needs a bath.. with bubbles, but the bubbles make him want a toy, so the little girl has to go find a rubber toy for the pig, which happens to be a little duck. The toy duck makes the pig homesick and then she feels the need for even more things. Needless to say, if you give a pig a pancake, your house will be a mess and you will lose half of your stuff.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
-Kindergarten-2nd grade.
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
-Fun entertainment.
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
-Students who love animals
-Students who enjoy comedies
5) Small group use (literaturecircles) (1 pt)
-Students can read through book together (or look through pictures depending on age and reading level) and talk about their favorite part, determine parts of the plot, etc.
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
-Carpet read aloud.
-Would be cool to read before a class field trip to a farm.
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
-If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
-If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
-Youtube Video (audio book)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtKx7...
33 reviews
March 25, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" to my cousin, who loves reading and listening to books. We owned this book. When I was a kid I enjoyed it very much. I still think it is a great book. All children would love to read.

This story is about a pig who wants some pancakes, then some syrup, and the pig would keep asking for more things throughout the book. At the end of the book the pig ends up wanting more pancakes. This makes the reader wonder what the pig might want next. This makes it feel like a never ending book. It shows a lot of excitement in the book.

The main character of this book was the pig. The pig was used throughout the whole book. There was also the little girl that would try to keep up to the pig.

This book took place during the summer or fall months. The book showed pictures inside of the book that are acquainted with summer and fall. And it took place at the little girl’s home.

I believe this book would be good for younger children. I would read it when I was little. My younger cousins also loved the book. I think it would be a great book to read to any child. This book could be a good bonding time if you read it to your child.
Profile Image for Ina.
1,268 reviews15 followers
July 3, 2012
Laura Numeroff's books are such classics, and all the kids love them. The gently outrageous consequences that stem from a simple act: giving a mouse a cookie, a muffin to a moose or a pancake to a hungry pig - are sure to make any reader smile. The kids hung on every word and took in every colorful, detailed picture. They even giggled at most of them. They also knew what was coming so when we got to the last page, they all knew that the pig, in the end was going to ask for a pancake. After words I got out a flannel of the story, and the children retold the story with the help of the flannel clues - and they did a very good job of it, too!
Profile Image for Danylle DuPris.
41 reviews
October 30, 2012
I thought this was an okay book. It pretty much talks about a pig that was eating a pancake with syrup. The pig gets all sticky and takes a bath with a rubber duck. Having that rubber duck made the pig homesick making her do all kinds of crazy things. At the end after the pig built a tree house, she wanted more syrup, and if she wanted more syrup, that means she wants another pancake. The book gives out a good story for little kids. If you miss someone try finding other things to do to keep your mind off that person so your not so sad. I mostly recommend this book to kids in elementary and middle school. It's a short, easy to read and also funny book.
5 reviews
February 9, 2016
This book was really cute and the illustrations supported the storyline throughout the book. It is a book that I would read to my class during a morning meeting or if there is a lull in the schedule for the day. It is a fun book where the storyline is funny, keeps you guessing what else the pig will want or need, and so forth. Overall, this picture book was a quick and fun read!
Profile Image for Paige Graham.
21 reviews3 followers
August 27, 2017
It all started with, "If you give a mouse a cookie.." This series, I feel like, has been around for a very long time. I think I enjoy these the most because although the animal and object might change in the book, they all go together in different ways so in the end, they all lead back to..."If you do this....Then this"
Profile Image for Jonathan Smith.
91 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2018
Great book for teaching young children sequence beginning middle end, first next then last, and an overall fun book to read to children and have fun while reading, also please dont read without having pancakes ready:)
91 reviews
March 18, 2018
This book has colorful illustration. Children love silly and funny books. It teaches love of pets. It teaches young children what comes next, and allows to do activities such as cooking. Also allows asking children questions using the word "If" and "then."
Profile Image for Vandergimler Vanderbimler.
9 reviews
June 4, 2025
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond, is an absolute treasure in children’s literature that continues to captivate young readers and their families. This charming, whimsical story is the perfect blend of humor, creativity, and the timeless fun of cause and effect that Numeroff is so well-known for. From the moment you open the book, you’re swept into a delightful chain of events that’s both entertaining and endearing.

The premise is simple yet genius: a pig is given a pancake, and from there, a playful series of requests and activities unfolds. Each page turns with anticipation as readers wonder what the pig will want next, and the story perfectly captures the energetic and sometimes unpredictable nature of children’s imaginations. It’s this clever narrative structure that makes the book so engaging—not just for kids but for adults reading along. The back-and-forth rhythm invites participation and discussion, making it a fantastic read-aloud experience that kids love to anticipate and mimic.

Laura Numeroff’s storytelling is wonderfully accessible and rhythmic, perfectly suited to young audiences. Her words flow smoothly and simply, but with a delightful sense of whimsy and humor that sparks laughter and curiosity. It’s easy to see why this book has become a beloved classic—its playful language invites children to explore the joy of storytelling and the excitement of imagination in everyday moments.

Complementing the story are Felicia Bond’s beautiful, warm illustrations. Her art brings the pig’s adventures to life with expressive characters, soft colors, and delightful details. The pig herself is irresistibly charming, with big, bright eyes full of curiosity and mischief. Each illustration is bursting with life and personality, perfectly capturing the fun and energy of the pig’s pancake-inspired antics. These visuals not only enhance the narrative but also provide children with the opportunity to observe and discuss details, fostering visual literacy alongside reading skills.

Beyond the fun, If You Give a Pig a Pancake gently introduces children to the concept of cause and effect, helping them understand how one action can lead to another. This educational aspect is seamlessly woven into the story, making learning feel like play. It encourages children to think creatively about sequences and consequences, which is foundational for cognitive development.

Moreover, the book’s lighthearted and positive tone makes it a fantastic tool for bonding between caregivers and children. The shared experience of reading together, predicting what the pig will want next, and giggling at the pig’s antics creates joyful memories. It’s a book that families return to time and again because it never fails to bring smiles and laughter.

In conclusion, If You Give a Pig a Pancake is a wonderfully uplifting and entertaining read that brightens the day of anyone lucky enough to share it. It’s a timeless story that celebrates imagination, curiosity, and the simple pleasures of life, making it an essential addition to any child’s library. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or the hundredth, this book is guaranteed to leave you feeling happy, inspired, and eager to see what the pig will want next!

Profile Image for Ana on the Shelves.
445 reviews32 followers
September 15, 2021
It all starts with a pancake and it ends up in a messy chaos!
An fun book with adorable illustrations.
Profile Image for Bree Hill.
1,017 reviews576 followers
June 20, 2023
Adorable. The bubble bath scene is hilarious based off the artwork alone. I love this series
119 reviews
April 17, 2020
A very amusing read for young readers, because of how much the pig is running around all over her house and through the yards. I love all of these “If you give a…” books because you can see how much one thing relates to another and is reminding the animal of something else. This can even help young readers with comparing different items together and how things are like one another as well. The illustrations are also very fun to look at because they use the white paper as the background of the depictions. This allows the scenes to take over the entire page so the readers can see everything that the pig and girl are doing together. I also really like the style of the writing throughout the book because of how the author repeats the whole ‘if you do this, then this will happen’. It seems like an exciting little rhythm to following along through the book. I would recommend this book to young readers who want an exciting adventure.
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,205 reviews6,346 followers
February 6, 2017
This was a cute picture book. I loved the fact that when the pig got one thing it led to a whole bunch of different things. I don't really have much to say about it except that the artwork was beautiful and now I'm interested in checking out her other stories.
Profile Image for Shannon.
72 reviews
January 5, 2020
I’ll be reading this each night to my child for the foreseeable future; it’s her current favourite, and we usually read it twice. :) Therefore, it goes on the list to remember what she enjoyed at certain ages, and because it’s read so many times. <3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,326 reviews

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