Once in awhile I find a book on my readÂing pile that I’ve passed by a few times. It might be that the covÂer doesn’t make sense to me and I shufÂfle through to choose anothÂer title. Or the title might be silÂly (in my mind) and I don’t open the book because someÂthing else catchÂes my interÂest. And then one day I open that book and I disÂcovÂer that I shouldn’t judge a book by its covÂer. (Is there a truer truism?)
This time that book is World PizÂza. It’s going to be about the difÂferÂent kinds of pizÂza around the world, right? It is not. There’s a clever play on words in the title which I wouldn’t have disÂcovÂered if I hadn’t opened the book and read it. (Note to self: open the book and read it!)
You see, World PizÂza is a loveÂly book. It’s a tiny bit silÂly, enough to keep those being read to smilÂing, but it’s realÂly a book about peace (I can’t figÂure out how to recÂomÂmend this book withÂout givÂing that away). A mothÂer makes a wish and sneezes, resultÂing in pizÂzas for everyÂone, everyÂwhere. It’s a book about what we have in comÂmon and how that brings us togethÂer and how that’s more imporÂtant than what keeps us apart.
Cece Meng’s stoÂry is told with the right kind of words, words that tell the stoÂry as it should be told, which are words that get the readÂer thinkÂing. And smilÂing. They are not preachy words. Not at all. It’s a hapÂpy book and we all need hapÂpy books.
Ellen Shi’s illusÂtraÂtions of a diverse popÂuÂlaÂtion of charÂacÂters around the world eatÂing and celÂeÂbratÂing pizÂza, as well as pizÂza comÂbiÂnaÂtions you’ve nevÂer conÂsidÂered before, open the reader’s mind to all the posÂsiÂbilÂiÂties of World PizÂza. They are someÂtimes funÂny and someÂtimes genÂtle in all the right ways, creÂatÂing a stoÂry that leaves an impresÂsion. And her colÂor palette is yummy.
I can easÂiÂly see this book being asked for again and again. Who doesn’t want to hear a stoÂry about pizÂza for everyÂone? And who doesn’t want to be reasÂsured about the goodÂness in this world we live in?
World PizÂza
writÂten by Cece Meng
illusÂtratÂed by Ellen Shi
SterÂling’s ChilÂdren’s Books, 2017
Thank you for this recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtion, VicÂki. It sounds deliÂcious, in many ways.