#1: Reviewed by Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers’ Favorite

“DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story by Joe Coleman is a high-spirited children’s picture book that will have you singing and dancing wherever you are when you read the story. The illustrations by Aubrey Morgan Foster, Tracy Foster Pyke, and Tafgraphics Design Studio Inc. are bright and pop off the page in a way that is sure to hold a child’s attention. While Pablo and Priscilla Pancake are not the typical characters you would expect in a children’s picture book, they are lively and so incredibly unique that you’ll want to read more books about talking, dancing, and singing pancakes. Joe Coleman’s DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story called out to me in a way that some stories don’t. While some children’s books are meant to be read at night as a bedtime story, this book could also change the game for morning reading and is also suitable for a school environment. I think the idea of reading an impactful book like this in the morning, perhaps during breakfast, might encourage the entire family to talk about more difficult subjects like drugs, alcohol, and smoking. Much can be learned and encouraged in the home as well as in school.

This is a fun and entertaining read for the whole family. It not only promotes the important message of saying No to dangerous habits but also includes a pledge to keep the young child on a healthy path into adulthood. There are additional activities for more entertainment at the end of the book.”

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#2: Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers’ Favorite

“DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story by Joe Coleman is a rhyming picture book for children. Some of the book’s many goals are to teach kids the dangers of smoking, drinking, and doing drugs, and to encourage interaction with parents or guardians.

The book begins with a typical family about to enjoy a pancake breakfast. Two of the pancakes come to life, escape, and find a cabin to live in. One morning they leave the cabin and spot a school, where they join the children in learning. At recess they see a young girl smoking a cigarette, and later another girl using marijuana. The Pancakes decide to compose a song with an anti-smoking/drinking/drugs theme, which they sing to the school children.

The kids love the song and agree to avoid these behaviors. The book then urges readers to take a pledge to do the same and ends with a series of activities that will help children learn and remember its messages. There are several QR codes to scan throughout the book. Children can listen to the Pancakes’ song, rate the book, and watch as Coleman presents the story to children. DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story by Joe Coleman is a charming book that is original, entertaining, and interactive. The best part is the lessons the book teaches; it has a consistent message about making good choices. The book is never preachy but gets its message across through a fun story.

Another excellent aspect is the rhyming, which will help children remember the book’s many lessons. I also liked the ability to scan the QR codes. All the content accessed from the codes is free and adds to the book’s important messages. I can see children wanting to read this book and watch the accompanying videos repeatedly. Parents and grandparents will appreciate the messages the book sends to their children and grandchildren. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants an enjoyable, lesson-packed story.”

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#3: Reviewed by Karen Almeida, Assistant Editor, Literary Titan

“One seemingly ordinary morning, a mom made pancakes for her children when two jumped out of the frying pan and ran out the door! These two pancakes are named Pablo and Priscilla; they are the DanSing Pancakes. So off they ran into the woods to find a place to live and figure out what they were here to do. Through a dream, the two discovered their purpose here in the world. They have been sent to teach children the dangers of drinking and drugs. Now teaching kids to be healthy is hard. So they had to find a way to do so that would get their attention. A new song and dance was the answer, and together Pablo and Priscilla created an engaging tune to teach children to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

The DanSing Pancakes' Healthy Choices Musical Story is a well-written and entertaining children's book. This fantastic story has been developed by a team of creators, Joe Coleman, Rick Vitacco, Philip B. Auerbach, Aubrey Morgan Foster, Tracy Foster Pyke, Tracy Saunders, and Shayna Small. This is more than just a picture book. There is an audiobook that accompanies this story and a link to the song on YouTube. There is also a pledge sheet for children to sign and additional activities to help foster healthy habits in children. This team of creators has gone above and beyond to create an accessible learning experience for children.

The whimsical artwork will draw in young readers and keep them engaged, whether they are reading the story or listening to it being read in person or the audio version of the story. The rhythmic storytelling makes listening and reading it out loud fun, ensuring that the message is not lost and will want to be heard over and over.

The DanSing Pancakes' Healthy Choices Musical Story is everything an educational and thought-provoking children's book should be. It has fun characters, music, an entertaining and original storyline, and an important message about making smart choices. This phenomenal story would be an excellent addition to classrooms, after-school centers, libraries, and homes.”

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#4: Reviewed by Prairie Review

“Two pancakes set out to teach their classmates the benefits of making smart choices in Coleman’s deliciously readable children’s picture book. It was an ordinary morning when Pablo and Priscilla Pancake jumped out of a frying pan and ran outside. After they find refuge in an empty cabin in the woods, the duo begins to wonder about their real purpose. They realize their purpose after they join Panfry Primary School and encounter “human” classmates smoking and talking about drinking and doing drugs. The pancakes pair sets out to teach their classmates the danger of drinking and doing drugs, unaware teaching children something good is an art in itself. They have to get really creative or risk facing failure.

With just a few lines, Coleman makes his characters effectively emote. The pancakes, Pablo and Priscilla, each delightfully charming, provide abundant entertainment, as well as insights about making smart choices and cultivating habits of hard work and healthy eating. There’s also a horde of funny situations, loads of delicious food items, expert cooking, endearing bonds of friendship, and well-meant life-lessons.

The text is simple enough for little ones, encouraging interaction while teaching knowledge and etiquettes, and the rhyming prose is easy to follow, keeping the youngsters invested: ‘There were cutting boards, tongs, and a silver grate./ On the table she put silverware and napkins/ and decorated plates on which they ate./ The DanSing Pancakes’ food was so yummy./ They spent most of the day laughing/ and stuffing food into their tummy.’

Aubrey Morgan Foster and Tracy Foster Pyke’s energetic and playful digital illustrations, done in bright colors, are lively. Clever spreads, such as Pablo’s and Priscilla’s escape from the kitchen right in the beginning, perfectly capture the pair’s mischievous personalities. The ‘scan and play’ audiobook by voiceover narrator and actress Shayna Small will engage children’s auditory senses.

There is a QR code that will take readers to a hot new song, written and performed by legendary Platters® lead singer, Joe Coleman, with a cameo part from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, DC. The accompanying pledge sheet will encourage children to sign while additional fun activities will inspire participation from young readers, motivating them to send their drawings and contest answers for posting on the book’s website (with parents’ permission). This excellent book that will help initiate conversations about the danger of drugs, smoking, and alcohol is a must-have for school and public libraries as well as youngsters’ bookshelves.”

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#5: Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen, Readers’ Favorite

“Drugs are a big problem with children. Since the 1960s, children have become involved with illegal drugs, tobacco products, and alcohol from a younger age. Priscilla and Pablo, the DanSing Pancakes, are on a journey to keep children from becoming trapped by the horrors of addiction. This book presents positive alternatives such as studying hard, making healthy food choices, and making safe friendships. Joe Coleman and his team have developed a great book in The DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story.

The book captures children’s attention by using stories and songs. It also gives children positive roles to replace the negative influences in their lives. The book invites children to go beyond the written pages and join in activities online using QR technology. There is even a catchy song to teach them. This book will be a life-changer for children in preventing substance abuse. Joe Coleman is well-known in the music industry. He was a member of one of the greatest musical groups ever - The Platters. He is listed as the author of The DanSing Pancakes’ Healthy Choices Musical Story, but the book is the product of a team effort. Not only does it teach working together, but it showcases what cooperation can accomplish. The illustration team is composed of Aubrey Morgan Foster, Tracy Foster Pyke, and Tafgraphics Design Studio Inc. The war on drugs continues to be an uphill battle, but this book is a great addition to the arsenal in that campaign. There is everything to like about this book. It will grab your children’s attention and instill a positive outlook in their hearts. Take the time to read and carry out the activities in the book and online with your child. It will be time well spent.”