How To Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps, written and illustrated by Bambi Edlund. Owlkids, 2023. $21.95 ages 4 and up

"STEP 5: 
Send the skunk, the mice
and the otter to the bakery ... 

... and remind them to pay 
before leaving."

The opening spread provides a list of what is needed for readers to prepare for making a peanut butter sandwich. Never have they seen such a list: 2 crows, 1 raccoon, 1 white hat with brim, 3 squirrels, 3 oranges, 1 bunch of bananas, 4 mice, 1 miniature donkey, 4 wooden clogs, 1 accordion, 1 skunk, 1 otter, 1 skateboard, 3 loaves of bread, 1 fallen log, 1 beaver, 1 empty jar, 1 badger, and 6 cheekfuls of peanuts* *or almonds, which will require 1 snapping turtle!! Let the fun begin. 

 It appears that friends will be needed to find success in creating such a culinary delight. Step by step, readers are treated to a series of 17 instructions involving bold dashes of keen interest and devotion to the cause. In spite of the many heroic and hilarious distractions, the end result is a communal picnic in the park with each of the participants enjoying said peanut butter sandwiches. 

How the creatures work together to make it happen is full of fun! It does take a concentrated effort to earn the money to buy the ingredients needed. They settle up with the grocer, baker and nut shop owner before doing all it takes to turn the nuts into peanut butter and a tree branch into a knife, to peel the bananas and slice them, to spread both onto bread, and transport the completed sandwiches to the park for all the 'yums'. 

Entertaining? Oh, yes. And a great way to introduce sequencing in a tale of friendship and cooperation. Kids will love the idea of taking 17 steps to make a sandwich. It might even inspire some to tackle their own method for sandwich making. Ms. Edlund's accompanying artwork is filled with expressive characters and shared fun.