The Chronicle of the Pancake

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

The repeating chase pattern is comforting and predictable. Read it playfully, then end with a calm takeaway about humility and staying aware.

Story Synopsis

A pancake is cooked—warm and delicious—and everyone wants a bite. But the pancake slips away and rolls out the door. One after another, people and animals chase it. Each time, the pancake boasts about escaping the last pursuer and promises to escape the next. The repetition makes children laugh and helps them anticipate what comes next. Eventually, the pancake meets a clever character who flatters and distracts it. In that moment of overconfidence, the pancake’s run ends. It’s a lively folk tale that’s funny on the surface, with a gentle bedtime lesson underneath: confidence is great, but paying attention matters too.

Story Excerpt

Once upon a time, in a small, cozy house, there lived a mother with seven children. They were good children, but they were very hungry that day—so hungry that their stomachs felt as empty as little drums. So their mother poured fresh, new milk into a bowl, stirred in flour, and made pancake batter. Soon the pan was warm on the hearth, and the batter lay there, puffing up and rising so plump and comfortable that it was a pleasure just to watch it. The seven children stood all around the pan, their eyes bright and hopeful. Their grandfather sat nearby too, watching with a gentle smile. “Give me a little bit of pancake, Mother, I’m so hungry!” said the first child. “Dear Mother!” said the second. “Dear, sweet Mother!” said the third. “Dear, sweet, good Mother!” said the fourth. “Dear, best, sweet, good Mother!” said the fifth. “Dear, best, sweet, good, dearest Mother!” said the sixth. “Dear, best, sweet, good, dearest, sweetest Mother!” said the seventh. And they all begged so politely, one even more sweetly than the other. “Yes, children,” said their mother, keeping her hand steady on the spoon, “just wait until it turns around. When I’ve turned it, you shall all have pancake—lovely pancake made with the best milk. Just see how fat and comfortable it is lying there!” But the pancake heard every word. And the moment it understood that it was meant to be eaten, it felt a sudden flutter of fear inside its warm, golden self. Before the mother could properly turn it, the pancake tried to turn itself. It flipped so quickly that it landed on its other side with a soft plop.

In One Glance