Children are, at once, natural simplifiers and complete over-complicaters, so books like this charming title are totally up their alley, as our anthropomorphic cast uses the power of teamwork to make sure that they're all fed and happy.

Bambi Edlund opens her picture book with a list of all the things you'll need to make a peanut butter sandwich, including assorted animals, fruit that may or may not end up in the final product, and a bunch of seemingly unrelated items such as a fallen log and a set of dancing clogs. Seventeen might sound like a lot of steps, but that number provides a strong hook for young readers, who will want to know what could possibly be so complicated about something as simple as making a peanut butter sandwich?

Ms Edlund answers that question with aplomb, satisfying both animal lovers and fans of Rube Goldberg-like machinations. My middle child had great fun reading this book with me, with his favorite part being how the animals were all well-rewarded for their hard work in the end. My eldest child was inspired by our reading to start making his own list of how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, enlisting aforementioned middle child in pretend labors as they exercised both imagination and logic while playing nicely together.

The cartoony illustrations throughout are a delight, with a diverse cast of both the animal crew and the humans they must interact with in their quest for peanut butter sandwiches. Ms Edlund is great at capturing expressions and depicting joy on each page. My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed this quick, fun and surprisingly inspirational read.

How To Make A Peanut Butter Sandwich In 17 Easy Steps by Bambi Edlund was published September 12 2023 by Owlkids and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781771475167">Bookshop!</a>

This review first appeared at <a href="https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2023/09/15/how-to-make-a-peanut-butter-sandwich-in-17-easy-steps-by-bambi-edlund/">TheFrumiousConsortium.net</a>.

Wow! Turns out I've been doing it wrong all these years . . .

It seems that to make a proper peanut butter sandwich you need a bunch of forest friends to go to the store for you, and a donkey wearing red clogs to stomp on the peanuts, and a beaver to nibble you a knife. And, more.

This is probably the cutest cookbook I've come across.

And now I really want to share a sandwich with a badger.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids for sending me to sandwich school.

This amusing how-to story is sure to please many readers with it's very intricate instructions for making a peanut butter and banana sandwich. My favorite moment was seeing the donkey put on his fancy clogs in order to mash the roasted peanuts.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Owlkids. All opinions are my own, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Humor
Age Group: Picture books

HOW TO MAKE A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH IN 17 EASY STEPS is so adorable. I love the unexpected ways the animals contribute to making the sandwich. It's so adorable!

Kids are going to laugh and giggle, wanting to read it again and again. I highly recommend this book for your children's collection.

Happy reading! And happy peanut butter sandwiches—watch out for the skunk. ;)

This is an adorable children's book set in an early reader graphic novel style. The text and illustrations are engaging and tell a hilarious story. Children will love it especially paired with a matching snack..

How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps is a good read. Any library doing Storytime with young children can do so as it isn't so worry for a group to lose interest. Many kids like animals and it is fun to see them not take advantage of anyone. A good wholesome read.

A fun, inventive journey through making a peanut butter sandwich! The illustrations are playful and clear, and the words are simple and humorous. I would recommend this to patrons looking for something funny to read to their kids.

This silly, over the top book will have kids giggling as they follow along with the wacky steps to make a sandwich.

A very silly story, will have readers laughing the whole way through. A great and funny way to introduce young readers/writers to procedural writing this would make a great addition to any children’s /classroom library. Funny and beautifully illustrated, a great read.

This book is ideal for any child who is a fan of the peanut butter and jelly song or simply loves peanut butter sandwiches. My three-year-old found the book funny and enjoyed the animals making delicious sandwiches for their picnic. This is a book that they wanted to read as soon as we finished reading it. The illustrations in the book are cute and add to the story. This book is a good addition to any classroom or public library.

Thank you to Owlkids Books, Owlkids and NetGalley or providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an entertaining picture book on how to (not) make your perfect PB&J. Kids will love following all the antics that happen in this scrumptious book!

Why these animals? Why this process? It was all freaking overcomplicated and just not funny. So it fails to deliver in my opinion

Cute book & story idea. The illustrations were fun, I bet little kids would get a kick out of reading it, or someone reading it to them! A parade of familiar animal friends & 17 nonsensical steps to making that sandwich!
I received an e-ARC from publisher Owlkids Books via NetGalley in return for reading it & offering my own fair/honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
Edlund offers clear instructions on how to construct a peanut butter sandwich in only seventeen steps. I appreciate that they lay out what is needed at the start of the book and list specific instructions for each step. Young readers will be laughing by page two and continue to appreciate the fun throughout. This is a delightful book to teach sequencing and thinking through a process.

Absolutely adorable. Not overly accessible for kids with disabilities or easy to make accessible by the teacher with all the 'ingredients' that are listed in the book.

So cute and fun. Perfect for introducing imperatives and following instructions, it has animals, food, and action words.

My seven year old and myself were laughing non stop throughout reading this book, and it's been on high debate in the book rotation for nightly reads. We were also able to use this book and work on how to actually make a PB sandwich along with other of her favorite foods. This book is a fun light hearted read, that brings laughter to the whole family while you are reading together.

This book title is too long and the story makes absolutely zero sense. So, of course it will be perfect for children. Cute illustrations. No plot. It will be checked out from the library by the first kid that picks it up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Owlkids for providing me with a review copy.

'How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps' by Bambi Edlund is a cute easy read. Your littles will find the antics of the animals funny and sweet. A short read that they can probably follow by themselves.

How To Make A Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps by Bambi Edlund had me giggling at the ingredients list! Kids will laugh out loud while reading this story that is told in steps. The lively, bright illustrations are essential to the story, and kids will easily follow along!

This story would be great for teaching children how it takes a lot of friends working together to build communities. It would also be great for teaching steps in a process and cause and effect relationships.

Thank you Owlkids Publishing and NetGalley for an ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.