Blue, Barry & Pancakes: Mount Choco Meltdown - Selected for Bookbuzz Primary 2026

About this book

An ice-cream sundae making contest, who could resist? Barry, ever the eager competitor, cannot wait! He ropes in his friends Blue and Pancakes for the big event, but not everyone shares his determination to win. What follows is a wonderfully silly adventure packed with laugh-out-loud moments as the friends journey to Mount Choco to find the ultimate, competition-winning chocolate.

Like the others in the series, this book stands out with vibrant, full-colour illustrations that capture the different personalities of the three friends perfectly. The banter between the trio is spot-on, and Barry’s ultimate realisation that friendship and teamwork are more important than winning makes for a genuinely hilarious and heart-warming read. 

At just 112 pages, this is a shorter read, perfect for children in years 3 and 4, but the humour and lively story will appeal to years 5 and 6 as well. The text is snappy and printed in sentence case rather than block capitals, meaning it’s especially accessible for younger or less confident readers. 

If you’re after something light-hearted that celebrates working together and having a laugh, this is a perfect choice. Look out for other titles in the series too!