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The Dancing Pancake
DELICIOUS PANCAKES!!
FREE!!
ALL YOU CAN EAT!!
COME TO OUR
NEW GRAND OPENING!
The grand opening of the Dancing Pancake isn't the only new thing in Bindi's life: new friends, a new apartment, maybe even a cute new crush? But there are other changes, like her dad's move to a new city, that have left Bindi confused and wondering: What will happen to my family? Will this new life ever feel normal? Among the unlikely bunch of regulars who form a makeshift community at the diner, Bindi will try to figure out how to be a new version of herself, one pancake and one silly elephant joke (her uncle's specialty) at a time.
With plenty of surprises, milk shakes, fake spiders, and real feelings, readers are sure to flip for the sweet mix of humor and heart in The Dancing Pancake.
FREE!!
ALL YOU CAN EAT!!
COME TO OUR
NEW GRAND OPENING!
The grand opening of the Dancing Pancake isn't the only new thing in Bindi's life: new friends, a new apartment, maybe even a cute new crush? But there are other changes, like her dad's move to a new city, that have left Bindi confused and wondering: What will happen to my family? Will this new life ever feel normal? Among the unlikely bunch of regulars who form a makeshift community at the diner, Bindi will try to figure out how to be a new version of herself, one pancake and one silly elephant joke (her uncle's specialty) at a time.
With plenty of surprises, milk shakes, fake spiders, and real feelings, readers are sure to flip for the sweet mix of humor and heart in The Dancing Pancake.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
27 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Spinelli
138 books100 followersEileen Spinelli is an award-winning children's book author from southeastern Pennsylvania. She has written over 100 picture books and novels for children. Her husband is Jerry Spinelli, who also writes books for children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
July 14, 2010
There's something about Eileen Spinelli's writing that I just love. I can't put my finger on what exactly the quality is, just...something. She has a way of writing quiet little stories that have heart and hope. Her book Where I Live ranks among my top 10 favorites of all-time for kids, and now she has The Dancing Pancake, in the same vein. It's just a lovely little piece of work.
Bindi's life is in an upheaval right now. Her dad has moved out, and now she and her mom and moving from their home to a small apartment over the new restaurant her mother and aunt are opening. She's unhappy--she wants her father to come back home and for life to be normal again.
Here are some things I specifically appreciated about The Dancing Pancake:
-- it's written in easy-flowing verse, so the story moves quickly.
-- Bindi is a real girl with real feelings. Sometimes she behaves in ugly ways or says ugly words, but she usually regrets that later. Her words and actions are all pretty spot-on for a young girl in Bindi's situation.
-- Bindi and her mother attend church each Sunday. That in itself I find a good thing, but I especially like the way Spinelli writes about it as if it's just a regular, routine part of Bindi's life. It's not the focus of the book, but it is a part of who she is. And I like that, because that's me. That's my kids. It's much of America, but it's often left out of stories. So I was glad to see it included here.
** SPOILER ALERT: NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS **
-- Bindi's homeless friend doesn't want a "home". When Bindi and her family and friends raise the money to provide an apartment for the lady, she soon abandons it--she can't see the stars on the inside. I found this a realistic portrayal of some homeless people today. Society tries to give them a safe, indoor home, and they just don't want it. We don't understand it (and neither does Bindi), but it's a life many of them choose.
-- Bindi's dad doesn't come back home, but he does emotionally reunite with Bindi's mother. It seems to me that many books for children that deal with parental separation and divorce focus on how the child handles the finality of the divorce. And that's a good thing, because so many of our children are living that story. But there is hope for some marriages, and I thought it was nice to see that, for a change.
All in all, Eileen Spinelli has the capacity to make me tear up a little but end with a hopeful smile.... Huh. I guess I do know what I like about her writing, after all.
Bindi's life is in an upheaval right now. Her dad has moved out, and now she and her mom and moving from their home to a small apartment over the new restaurant her mother and aunt are opening. She's unhappy--she wants her father to come back home and for life to be normal again.
Here are some things I specifically appreciated about The Dancing Pancake:
-- it's written in easy-flowing verse, so the story moves quickly.
-- Bindi is a real girl with real feelings. Sometimes she behaves in ugly ways or says ugly words, but she usually regrets that later. Her words and actions are all pretty spot-on for a young girl in Bindi's situation.
-- Bindi and her mother attend church each Sunday. That in itself I find a good thing, but I especially like the way Spinelli writes about it as if it's just a regular, routine part of Bindi's life. It's not the focus of the book, but it is a part of who she is. And I like that, because that's me. That's my kids. It's much of America, but it's often left out of stories. So I was glad to see it included here.
** SPOILER ALERT: NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS **
-- Bindi's homeless friend doesn't want a "home". When Bindi and her family and friends raise the money to provide an apartment for the lady, she soon abandons it--she can't see the stars on the inside. I found this a realistic portrayal of some homeless people today. Society tries to give them a safe, indoor home, and they just don't want it. We don't understand it (and neither does Bindi), but it's a life many of them choose.
-- Bindi's dad doesn't come back home, but he does emotionally reunite with Bindi's mother. It seems to me that many books for children that deal with parental separation and divorce focus on how the child handles the finality of the divorce. And that's a good thing, because so many of our children are living that story. But there is hope for some marriages, and I thought it was nice to see that, for a change.
All in all, Eileen Spinelli has the capacity to make me tear up a little but end with a hopeful smile.... Huh. I guess I do know what I like about her writing, after all.
June 3, 2010
Bindi is facing a lot of changes in her life. First, her father has left their family to find a job in another city. A few months later, she learns that her parents have separated. Now her mother and her aunt are starting a restaurant called The Dancing Pancake. They will be moving into the apartment above the restaurant and out of their house. As all of these changes hit, Bindi finds herself feeling sad and angry about them. People at the restaurant and her extended family help her deal with her feelings and show her the positive in her life.
This verse novel features a full cast of interesting characters. The poems are written from Bindi’s point of view. She is a protagonist who is open and honest about her feelings, even when she is struggling with them. She offers readers a clear view of what children deal with when parents separate and life changes. At the same time, she is uniquely Bindi, a girl who loves to read, worries about what sort of friend she is, and tries to help others whenever she can.
Spinelli’s verse is short and sweet. It has a clarity and understated feel to it that makes it very easy to read. Lew-Vriethoff’s illustrations have a breezy, effortless quality to them. They are simple line drawings that capture the moments in the book. The verse format and the illustrations throughout the book will make this a very inviting title for young readers.
Highly recommended, this book strikes just the right balance between a girl’s life falling apart and a family ready to catch and hold her. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
This verse novel features a full cast of interesting characters. The poems are written from Bindi’s point of view. She is a protagonist who is open and honest about her feelings, even when she is struggling with them. She offers readers a clear view of what children deal with when parents separate and life changes. At the same time, she is uniquely Bindi, a girl who loves to read, worries about what sort of friend she is, and tries to help others whenever she can.
Spinelli’s verse is short and sweet. It has a clarity and understated feel to it that makes it very easy to read. Lew-Vriethoff’s illustrations have a breezy, effortless quality to them. They are simple line drawings that capture the moments in the book. The verse format and the illustrations throughout the book will make this a very inviting title for young readers.
Highly recommended, this book strikes just the right balance between a girl’s life falling apart and a family ready to catch and hold her. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
November 18, 2011
The Dancing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli is a novel told in verse about eleven year old Bindi trying to cope with her life being turned upside down. Her parents are separated and she and her mother are moving into an apartment over a restaurant which her mother is running the restaurant with a family friend.
While I enjoyed the free verse style of story telling, the plot seemed rather derivative. There seems to be a glut of stories about single parents (usually mothers) running catering companies (or restaurants) while the fathers off having midlife crises. I'm thinking most specifically of the Regular Guy series by Sarah Weeks and Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff (review coming).
Besides the family drama plot, The Dancing Pancake has a bittersweet side story about a homeless woman named Grace. She usually has enough to order something from the fledgling Dancing Pancake restaurant but they usually give her something extra. Bindi, trying to find her own place in this new life she's living, befriends Grace and tries to do favors for her. Some of them Grace likes and others she doesn't. This part of the book is a far more interesting but understated discussion on homelessness and mental illness that the After School Special main plot.
Fans of Sharon Creech's novels in verse (Love That Dog and Hate That Cat) will probably like The Dancing Pancake.
While I enjoyed the free verse style of story telling, the plot seemed rather derivative. There seems to be a glut of stories about single parents (usually mothers) running catering companies (or restaurants) while the fathers off having midlife crises. I'm thinking most specifically of the Regular Guy series by Sarah Weeks and Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff (review coming).
Besides the family drama plot, The Dancing Pancake has a bittersweet side story about a homeless woman named Grace. She usually has enough to order something from the fledgling Dancing Pancake restaurant but they usually give her something extra. Bindi, trying to find her own place in this new life she's living, befriends Grace and tries to do favors for her. Some of them Grace likes and others she doesn't. This part of the book is a far more interesting but understated discussion on homelessness and mental illness that the After School Special main plot.
Fans of Sharon Creech's novels in verse (Love That Dog and Hate That Cat) will probably like The Dancing Pancake.
August 19, 2011
My 12 year old commented that she isn't really used to books written in free verse, but that she really liked this one.
It's less verse more than it is broken down into short sections rather than chapters and they read well. Bindi is a believable girl. Her anger at her parents' separation, at the way her life is turned upside down by leaving her home to move into an apartment above her mother and aunt's new restaurant, her confusions over her feelings, are all very real. The minor characters are believable--Grace, the homeless lady could have been allowed a perfect happy ending, but instead gets one that is more realistic, Bindi's relationships with her friends have the real ups and downs of real kids friendships. There's a nice plug here too for a number of other kids books--pity there's no "Bindi's reading list" at the end of the book.
It's less verse more than it is broken down into short sections rather than chapters and they read well. Bindi is a believable girl. Her anger at her parents' separation, at the way her life is turned upside down by leaving her home to move into an apartment above her mother and aunt's new restaurant, her confusions over her feelings, are all very real. The minor characters are believable--Grace, the homeless lady could have been allowed a perfect happy ending, but instead gets one that is more realistic, Bindi's relationships with her friends have the real ups and downs of real kids friendships. There's a nice plug here too for a number of other kids books--pity there's no "Bindi's reading list" at the end of the book.
July 21, 2010
2.5/5
Lately I have really been enjoying novels in verse, but this one just didn't do it for me. Yes there were funny moments, touching and moving moments but what drove me crazy was the notion that kids are too young to understand grown up stuff.
Bindi's life is in an upheaval. Her Dad left and her and her Mom are moving into an apartment above the Dancing Pancake, the diner that her Aunt and Mom are opening. Bindi has to learn to deal with her parents separation and new surroundings. In this process she becomes a little selfish and when Grace, the homeless customer points this out to her, Bindi remembers that everyone has problems not just her. So the summer is all about Bindi figuring out about herself, her mom and dad, her friends and just life in general.
I gave The Dancing Pancake a low rating because I don't think this has much general kid appeal. Sure kids dealing with their parents separation will feel for Bindi and what she is going through but most kids I feel are going to skip over this book. But given to the right kid this would be a great comfort. Recommended for tweens dealing with a separation and just questioning life.
Lately I have really been enjoying novels in verse, but this one just didn't do it for me. Yes there were funny moments, touching and moving moments but what drove me crazy was the notion that kids are too young to understand grown up stuff.
Bindi's life is in an upheaval. Her Dad left and her and her Mom are moving into an apartment above the Dancing Pancake, the diner that her Aunt and Mom are opening. Bindi has to learn to deal with her parents separation and new surroundings. In this process she becomes a little selfish and when Grace, the homeless customer points this out to her, Bindi remembers that everyone has problems not just her. So the summer is all about Bindi figuring out about herself, her mom and dad, her friends and just life in general.
I gave The Dancing Pancake a low rating because I don't think this has much general kid appeal. Sure kids dealing with their parents separation will feel for Bindi and what she is going through but most kids I feel are going to skip over this book. But given to the right kid this would be a great comfort. Recommended for tweens dealing with a separation and just questioning life.
February 1, 2024
I’ve been reminiscing about this book lately. I was deeply attached to it and would seek it out at the library every time I went growing up. Every time it was checked out I was equally happy because I wanted other kids to enjoy it like I did. I need to reread it soon for that nostalgic feeling <3
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January 30, 2018The dancing pancake is based on Bini and her family’s difficulties and her reactions to them. Her dad has moved out and she is living with mom. This book is very free flowing and focuses more like journal entries. It is fast paced read because of the structure. I really enjoyed this book because you really get to know Bindi and get an insight into her life. The good, bad and ugly from a child’s perspective. All in all the circumstances of her life enabled her to have a broader perspective.
May 4, 2022
BEING A PANCAKE
At first I'm shy.
I stand close to the door.
I feel like a total goofball.
Why did I ever agree to do this?
The backdrop of the story is the opening of a cafe called "The Dancing Pancake", operated by sixth-grader Bindi's mother and aunt. Following the departure of her father, who leaves town to look for a job, it becomes necessary for Bindi and her mother to move to an apartment over the cafe. The heart of the story, though, are the customers Bindi meets and the people hired to work at the cafe. Lots of secondary characters and subplots are woven effortlessly into the story including her best friend Albert, the bug-crazy and down-to-earth neighbor who provides stability and advice when needed, Ruby Frances, the young waitress who Bindi regrettably accuses of stealing money from the register when it comes up short, Jackson, a preschool cousin, and Grace, an elderly homeless customer. Bindi, who has been self-absorbed during much of the story does reach some closure by the end which will satisfy readers. Written in verse and reading like Bindi's personal journal, the story uses a multicultural cast of all ages to cover tougher issues like homelessness and separation of parents. Black-and-white line drawings interspersed throughout the book add humor and will entice younger readers. The short poetry makes it easy-to-read and would be an excellent choice for reluctant readers. Recommended for grades 3-6. I found this one hard to put down.
At first I'm shy.
I stand close to the door.
I feel like a total goofball.
Why did I ever agree to do this?
The backdrop of the story is the opening of a cafe called "The Dancing Pancake", operated by sixth-grader Bindi's mother and aunt. Following the departure of her father, who leaves town to look for a job, it becomes necessary for Bindi and her mother to move to an apartment over the cafe. The heart of the story, though, are the customers Bindi meets and the people hired to work at the cafe. Lots of secondary characters and subplots are woven effortlessly into the story including her best friend Albert, the bug-crazy and down-to-earth neighbor who provides stability and advice when needed, Ruby Frances, the young waitress who Bindi regrettably accuses of stealing money from the register when it comes up short, Jackson, a preschool cousin, and Grace, an elderly homeless customer. Bindi, who has been self-absorbed during much of the story does reach some closure by the end which will satisfy readers. Written in verse and reading like Bindi's personal journal, the story uses a multicultural cast of all ages to cover tougher issues like homelessness and separation of parents. Black-and-white line drawings interspersed throughout the book add humor and will entice younger readers. The short poetry makes it easy-to-read and would be an excellent choice for reluctant readers. Recommended for grades 3-6. I found this one hard to put down.
April 30, 2016
This story got me with the dust jacket description of a comfortable, idyllic cafe. It's told from the point of view of an 11 year-old girl and is written in unrhyming poetry form. I can't decide if reading such sweet books as this helps me or harms me -- is it healing to read this story of parents separating, since it's still so happy and cozy? Or is it harmful because it's so happy and cozy? Or is it just dumb for a 45 year-old to relish such a sweet story? I'm full of doubts, which I will blame on my parents' divorce, and the fact that neither opened a dear little pancake house right afterward. For 11 year-old me, this was an excellent read.
November 21, 2010
I waffled back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I enjoyed it more than the average book, but it felt a little too similar to a bunch of other books I've read recently. I do think the free-verse format helped distinguish it a little, but I'm not sure if it was enough to be memorable in the long-run...
May 24, 2012
Fine, pleasant, positive. I liked Bindi, I liked her realizations to think about others and Be gentle. good quote from "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri: "anger makes us all stupid."
I wonder how kids are liking it. Also wonder about the writing style: is that supposed to be free verse or what? What is the point?
I wonder how kids are liking it. Also wonder about the writing style: is that supposed to be free verse or what? What is the point?
June 20, 2012
Heartwarming story about family, friends, community and that when we care and look out for one another, all will turn out alright. Keep the tissue box nearby... This book was warmly recommended to me by two of my fifth graders - thank you girls! You were so sure that I would love this book and you were absolutely right!
February 16, 2025
'Grace listens as I go on about my dark mood, my mean wishes. She tells me: "If you were really mean you'd be la-dee-dah-ing around all smug and cold heart and no worries about feeling that way". She holds my hand. "Mean people don't confess, or worry about being mean".
July 28, 2012
Gawd I just freaking HATE when authors decide to write their books in verse. Whywhywhy???? It was quite a good story but got marks off for being IN VERSE.
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September 24, 2012Cute. In poetry style. All is well that ends well. Bindi survives her parents and a move. she even dances in a pancake outfit to help the cafe.
May 13, 2022
Super cute and relatable!
May 28, 2019
Choice book #4, Quarter 4.
The Dancing Pancake written by Eileen Spinelli is a realistic fiction book that takes place in a small town. The book follows Bindi who has to move to a new apartment and struggles to adjust to a lot of new changes.
The main character is Bindi. Bindi has many new changes in her life. She has new friends, a new apartment, and her dad moves to a new city. Bindi is confused and she wonders what will happen to her family.
The main problem/conflict is that Bindi's dad and mom have separated but not divorced and Bindi is really sad and gets really mad at her dad. Bindi also has started a pancake place called The Dancing Pancake with her mom and some others but business doesn't start well.
The author believes that you should be happy even if there are obstacles in your life.
Text evidence:
1. Bindi is upset that her dad moved to a different city but Bindi instead tries to be more happy and tells her mom that she will be happy all day long on the Mother's day card and that makes her mom happy
2. Bindi has to move to a new apartment and doesn't really like it that much at first but she still thinks about happy stuff
3. Bindi has a friend named Grace and she is missing and Bindi is really worried but she still is positive and makes missing signs with her friend Kyra
The Dancing Pancake is a really fun book that is humorous. I really enjoyed reading this book because it has a lot of relatable moments. This book made me feel sad but it also made me feel happy too. The book felt complete because it had a good ending. This book also had small drawings that made the book even better. In all, I would totally recommend this realistic fiction book!
The Dancing Pancake written by Eileen Spinelli is a realistic fiction book that takes place in a small town. The book follows Bindi who has to move to a new apartment and struggles to adjust to a lot of new changes.
The main character is Bindi. Bindi has many new changes in her life. She has new friends, a new apartment, and her dad moves to a new city. Bindi is confused and she wonders what will happen to her family.
The main problem/conflict is that Bindi's dad and mom have separated but not divorced and Bindi is really sad and gets really mad at her dad. Bindi also has started a pancake place called The Dancing Pancake with her mom and some others but business doesn't start well.
The author believes that you should be happy even if there are obstacles in your life.
Text evidence:
1. Bindi is upset that her dad moved to a different city but Bindi instead tries to be more happy and tells her mom that she will be happy all day long on the Mother's day card and that makes her mom happy
2. Bindi has to move to a new apartment and doesn't really like it that much at first but she still thinks about happy stuff
3. Bindi has a friend named Grace and she is missing and Bindi is really worried but she still is positive and makes missing signs with her friend Kyra
The Dancing Pancake is a really fun book that is humorous. I really enjoyed reading this book because it has a lot of relatable moments. This book made me feel sad but it also made me feel happy too. The book felt complete because it had a good ending. This book also had small drawings that made the book even better. In all, I would totally recommend this realistic fiction book!
December 18, 2023
1) The depiction of Bindi's struggles over adjusting to the big changes in her life. She's moody, but she's also a very likeable character. I liked the through-line of the need for forgiveness (with regards to her dad, Ruby Frances, etc.). It's nice to see her grow up in the story.
2) The empathy Bindi shows to Grace, the homeless lady. However, I also like how that plot point does not work out exactly as Bindi originally intends. But still, Bindi learns to accept people for who (and where) they are.
3) The blank verse works well in this book. (It seems to be Spinelli's thing.)
4) I found the opening-a-restaurant plotline interesting.
5) Characters I enjoyed: Jackson, the little cousin and Ruby Frances, the waitress. I like how their stories intermingle with **SPOILER the theft of the $50 from the cash register. END SPOILER
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is an enjoyable book! I loved how she worked an actual dancing pancake into the climax of the story ;)
2) The empathy Bindi shows to Grace, the homeless lady. However, I also like how that plot point does not work out exactly as Bindi originally intends. But still, Bindi learns to accept people for who (and where) they are.
3) The blank verse works well in this book. (It seems to be Spinelli's thing.)
4) I found the opening-a-restaurant plotline interesting.
5) Characters I enjoyed: Jackson, the little cousin and Ruby Frances, the waitress. I like how their stories intermingle with **SPOILER the theft of the $50 from the cash register. END SPOILER
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is an enjoyable book! I loved how she worked an actual dancing pancake into the climax of the story ;)
October 19, 2018
“In the Dancing Pancake,” Bindis mom is getting a divorce and then Bindi’s mom and her move into an apartment. Her mom needs a job and her aunt wants to own a restaurant. Will Bibi's new life work out and will her mom find a job or will her aunt's dream come true? Read the Dancing Pancake to find out. I would rate the Dancing Pancake 5 “stars”.The book The Dancing Pancake is a great book for kids 4th grade and up. I think this because 4th graders can really connect with this book. Also, it can really teach kids to not give up. And to be determined to accomplish your dream. You should definitely read this book because it teaches very good life lessons along the way I liked it because anyone can really fit into the main charters shoes. This book is also in verse and I love books that are in verse. All of the charters lead up to the theme with there are many charters in the book so you can see many different themes. I hope you will read The Dancing Pancake as I did.
November 11, 2018
I loved this book! At first it was hard to get into because it is in prose. It looks like a poem, but it doesn’t necessarily rhyme. I hadn’t read a book like this for a long time. The other books I have read have been collections of poems, but this one actually tells a story and I thought it was nice. It's about growing up and making things work, even though it is different than you thought it would be. Bindi's mom and her aunt start a restaurant (and Bindi and her mother live above it). The restaurant helps Bindi find her place in this crazy world. The pictures and my imagination filled in the details. I enjoyed reading it. Easy read and enough drama to feel real. Good ending (although not cheesy perfect). It was great!
June 5, 2023
note that this is In Verse (or not, depending on which review you read) and the other Spinelli I'm reading is about the poet Emily D. ... discuss both in Poetry folder in Children's Books group....
---
I'm going to go with 'not' (in verse) and not bother to discuss it, actually. I just don't feel that this is all that special.
I did like some of the details, like homemade greeting cards. And the illustrations are a delight. I like the theme of lessening your own self-pity and misery by paying attention to what's going on with others around you.
I do wish they'd had the sense to . And I wish more of the hard work of running a cafe were depicted; Darnell seems to not really need much help. Side characters, well, Albert and Ruby Frances are neat. I don't feel I get to know many others; I'd like to get to know Mrs. Otis (there's got to be a reason she keeps coming back, no?).
"Anger makes us all stupid." (credited to Clara in Heidi).
---
I'm going to go with 'not' (in verse) and not bother to discuss it, actually. I just don't feel that this is all that special.
I did like some of the details, like homemade greeting cards. And the illustrations are a delight. I like the theme of lessening your own self-pity and misery by paying attention to what's going on with others around you.
I do wish they'd had the sense to . And I wish more of the hard work of running a cafe were depicted; Darnell seems to not really need much help. Side characters, well, Albert and Ruby Frances are neat. I don't feel I get to know many others; I'd like to get to know Mrs. Otis (there's got to be a reason she keeps coming back, no?).
"Anger makes us all stupid." (credited to Clara in Heidi).
May 30, 2019
Choice Book #4 Quarter #4
The Dancing Pancake by: Eileen Spinelli is a book in verse about a girl named Bindi who has trouble with her parents and moving.
The main characters in this book are Bindi is a person who only cares about herself and needs everything to be perfect, Megan is a friend of Bindi who also is the same just a bit more accepting, Kyra is a nice girl who loves to read, and bindis mom who is very worrying and sensitive.
The main problem in this book is Bind's parents getting divorced then having to move.
The author belives that even if there is so many problems around you doesen't mean your the only with them.
1. Bindi starts to face problems in her life and becomes grumpy
2. her friends start having problems but she doesent care about them and only thinks of herself
3.she hears the problems with her friends and stops being a selfish loser and tries to resolve stuff.
i did not enjoy the book because it did not set a good mood and the main character was very selfish and not nice.
When the little kid Jackson put a fake spider in the food they were selling because it was funny.
this book did not engage my emotions.
it did not feel complete because there was no story to it, no excitement.
this is the worst book i have ever read and does not compare to other ones i've read.
If i was the author i would have added excitement and a plot line.
The Dancing Pancake by: Eileen Spinelli is a book in verse about a girl named Bindi who has trouble with her parents and moving.
The main characters in this book are Bindi is a person who only cares about herself and needs everything to be perfect, Megan is a friend of Bindi who also is the same just a bit more accepting, Kyra is a nice girl who loves to read, and bindis mom who is very worrying and sensitive.
The main problem in this book is Bind's parents getting divorced then having to move.
The author belives that even if there is so many problems around you doesen't mean your the only with them.
1. Bindi starts to face problems in her life and becomes grumpy
2. her friends start having problems but she doesent care about them and only thinks of herself
3.she hears the problems with her friends and stops being a selfish loser and tries to resolve stuff.
i did not enjoy the book because it did not set a good mood and the main character was very selfish and not nice.
When the little kid Jackson put a fake spider in the food they were selling because it was funny.
this book did not engage my emotions.
it did not feel complete because there was no story to it, no excitement.
this is the worst book i have ever read and does not compare to other ones i've read.
If i was the author i would have added excitement and a plot line.
February 12, 2018
Bindi's parents are having problems and Bindi's life gets dramatically changed. Her mother helps her sister-in-law set up and manage a new breakfast restaurant while angry Bindi tries to makes sense of her new life situation. Bindi finds that caring about and helping other people makes her life better and also helps her to feel better.
I like how this mg novel is written, short chapters and easy dialogue that makes the characters easy to care about.
I like how this mg novel is written, short chapters and easy dialogue that makes the characters easy to care about.
March 19, 2023
3.5 stars. A story written in verse (kind of), The Dancing Pancake is a story do forgiveness, family, friendship, and change. I love how Spinelli bridged some tougher topics in this middle grade fiction story, including separating parents and homelessness. Read aloud to my 8 year old son. Fun pictures included on some pages.
January 2, 2024
I highly underestimated this small youth book. I assumed it would only be a bit whimsical and light. It was a fun read and it did a lovely job of delving into how a young girl coped with the separation of her parents and starting the next part of her life in a new home (one over a restaurant run by her mother and aunt). Four stars--recommended for grade school up to adult (by me)!
June 21, 2018
Enjoyable to read. I liked that there were Christian themes without being overtly preachy, and I liked that the characters were admirable (unlike some that I have to explain to my son, "But we don't talk like that"). I'm exploring more novels in verse, and this one was great!
June 3, 2017
Used this for Book Club for Kids at my library. Most kids liked it. One didn't because it was too sad. One girl related a lot to Bindi and really connected with her story.
November 29, 2018
Fun book about a young girl who battles with her parents separation, a new home, and a world where not everything is fair.
March 9, 2020
When I was younger, I used to adore this book!
March 11, 2020
This book is GREAT.it is about a girl who's parents have seperated.every few pages is made up of not chapters, but poams.
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