Pizza-Pie Snowman

An intrepid pig named Pinky goes off to fetch a pizza during a snowstorm in this silly home-away-home tale.Pinky is so focused on remembering the toppings his mother requested--"Mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, / Fresh tomatoes, onions, peas"--that he doesn't realize that he's been covered in snow after an altercation with the pesky Squirrel boys. He continues to walk through town, covered in snow from head to toe, with only his snout, eyes, and feet visible. Everyone stops and wonders at the walking snowman, but Pinky doesn't realized they're gaping at him. Once inside to order the pizza, the cook recognizes him by his snout, and then the snow melts away. On his way home with the pizza, Mr. Mutt tells him about the walking snowman, "and after their delicious lunch, Pinky and Mommy took a stroll into town. They wanted to see the walking snowman too!" Readers who are in on the joke will find humor in this conclusion and in the story as a whole, with its fully realized watercolor, gouache, and ink depictions of a small town populated by anthropomorphic animals. Pizza, snow, and a talking pig: a recipe for storytime fun. (Picture book. 3-6) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Pinky is a little pig with a big mission. He's going to town to get a pizza with the best toppings for his mother. He makes up a poem to remember them all. "Mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, /fresh tomatoes, onions, peas." It is winter, and that means snow, which means all of Pinky's friends and neighbors are out having fun. They want him to join in, but he is set on completing his task and won't stop until he succeeds. After several misadventures, Pinky arrives in town, where excitement is in the air. There's a walking snowman! Pinky just can't see it for himself. He accomplishes his mission and gets his steaming pizza home. But after lunch, Pinky and his mother head back downtown, hoping to see the walking snowman, too. This is a delightful story about one young boy's independent outing, accentuated by the fun repeated line that Pinky uses to remember the toppings. The plot is simple, streamlined, and easy to understand. The illustrations allow the audience to be in on the walking-snowman gag along with Pinky's neighbors. They're colorful and detailed without being too busy. VERDICT A sweet seasonal selection with just the right amount of toppings, perfect for a snowy storytime.-Paige Garrison, Augusta Richmond County Library System, GA

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