Pizza Day: A Picture Book

PreS-Gr 2--The farm-to-table movement has swept the U.S., and everyone, whether they've spent time tending their garden and eating its bounty or not, will relate to this charming story about a young boy and his family on the day they harvest their tomatoes, basil, carrots, onions, and peppers and make a pizza from scratch. The story captures all the stages of making pizza--from preparing the dough and the sauce to assembling and baking the pizza. A recipe for "Garden Pizza" is included at the back. The color red is used liberally throughout, rendering vibrant illustrations that are happy and bright. They perfectly depict the exuberance of the boy and his father while they are cooking, and their enjoyment when playing outside in the backyard with their dog while waiting for the dough to rise and the sauce to simmer. Not only does the story capture the pleasures of growing, harvesting, and eating homegrown food, it also celebrates a slower pace of life where a father and his son have the time to cook and play together without a barrage of obligations. The family's mother returns from work to join in the backyard picnic at the end, and readers can almost taste the delectable meal they are savoring. A wonderful summertime companion to Iwai's Soup Day about a mother and daughter preparing soup in the wintertime. VERDICT A delightful and delicious story that will be enjoyed by all.-- Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA