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About the book --
This colorfully illustrated
children’s book is about a young boy who loves to eat pancakes. He even
loves to eat them for dinner. When he invites his best friend home from
the playground for a family dinner, they must decide how many pancakes
to eat. Both boys love to eat pancakes but sometimes they like to eat
something else. The rhythmic language and recurrent phrasing along with
the surprise ending to the story makes this book an engaging read for
parents and children.
Reviews --
“WOW! I absolutely loved the
book! It has soooooo many skills I could point out to my kids: rhyming,
counting, vocabulary, describing words. — Mrs. Lori Speer, Kindergarten
teacher, Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, Germantown, Maryland
The book’s adorable . . . — Jane
Klein, Librarian/EFDL-FLA Manager, Literacy Council of Montgomery
County, Maryland
The children loved it. When I would read the statement “Do You Like
pancakes?” in the story, they would all say, “Yes, I do!” They really
connected with the story. — Alexis Brinn, pre-K teacher, 3-year olds
room, La Own Academy, Roswell, Georgia
About the Author --
Andreia Chavis-Douglas
is a native of Washington, DC, an artist and an adjunct professor at
Prince George’s Community College and Howard County Community College in
Maryland where she currently resides. She recently retired from the
Washington Post newspaper where she was a graphic artist for many years.
She has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of DC
and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix. This
is her first book in print. Ms. Chavis-Douglas is determined to be of
assistance in the fight against illiteracy and to that end has written
several unpublished children’s books with the adult ESL/literacy student
also in mind. In her role as a volunteer literacy tutor with Montgomery
County Literacy, she worked with and assisted her first client in her
efforts to learn to read, write and speak English. Andreia is mother to
adult children, grandmother to six beautiful grandchildren and
great-grandmother to an energetic toddler. She enjoys photography and
sculpture and the company of friends and extended family. She loves to
travel and explore museums and art galleries; reading and illustrating
stories for her grandchildren; and taking long walks with her giant
schnauzer.
An Interview With The Author:
1. What are your current projects?
I am maintaining my commitment to address the literacy needs of adults
in Montgomery County, Maryland as a literacy volunteer and am also
completing a second children’s book, Beware of the Mud Monster.
2. How did you come up with the title for your book?
My daughter, grandchildren and I were on our way to a pancake house for
breakfast one day and I asked my grandson, “Do you like pancakes?” He
exclaimed, “Yes, I do! The idea for an illustrated book was born.
3. Who would be most interested in your book and why?
Children, moms, dads, teachers, grandparents will all enjoy reading this
book. It explores family dynamics, diversity and friendships through a
family meal activity while reinforcing healthy eating concepts in a
light hearted and fun way. It also provides an easily relatable and fun
first reading experience for new readers and would be a great book for
adult literacy students because it uses simple repetitive words to
explore a familiar activity.
4. List five words that you feel best describe your book. Fun,
Family-oriented, engaging.
5. What is the most fascinating
component of your book?
Its colorful imagery and unique story concept. That it represents
African-American family dynamics in a positive and uplifting way.
6. What are the main ideas or themes of your book?
Friendship, Family
togetherness, Sharing.
7. Are the experiences in your book based on someone you know, or events
in your life?
Yes. I have always written stories for my children and grandchildren. My
six-year old grandson, Gabriel is always asking his mother to make him
pancakes. He loves to eat pancakes and will eat a large stack of them.
He recently lost his two front teeth, which I think make him an adorable
character.
8. Who or what has influenced your writing an in what way?
I have always loved reading books and enjoyed the adventures they take
me on. This is probably because my mom read to me and to my sisters when
we were children. One of my favorite stories as a young child was about
a young clam named Clem Clam, A Story of the Happy Clam Family by Edythe
A. Laws. Sadly, it is out of print now, so I cannot read it to my
family. As a teenager, I penned stories for my younger sister. Later, as
a new mom I wrote and illustrated stories about my oldest daughter to
amuse her. Now as a grandmother I have continued the tradition by
writing and illustrating stories featuring my grandchildren for their
entertainment. Instead of a drawing board and paper, I now illustrate
their stories on the computer.
Andreia Chavis-Douglas
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