Rating: 
Summary: When in doubt, make your child into edible Italian food
Review: At the grand old age of (I kid you not) 90, the great children's author William Steig created a wonderful picture book. When I'm 90 I'll be lucky if I can determine how one uses a ballpoint pen, but Steig was always an original. His books have been read by pretty much every child since the dawn of time and his stories have a kind of eerie continuous popularity that's undeniable. With "Pete's a Pizza", Steig tells a story of a game that he used to play with his children when the weather was rough.
Pete's sad. He was going to play ball with his friends but the weather is awful outside. As Pete lies on the couch, miserable, his dad decides the only thing to be done is to make Pete into a pizza. First he kneads Pete, then he stretches him, then he twirls him in the air (cause that's what all great pizza makers do to their dough). A little oil, flour, and tomatoes as well as cheese and then it's into the oven (the couch). Then the pizza's done and needs to be cut, and before you know it the sun has come up and Pete can go outside and play with his friends.
It's just so doggone sweet. And not in that fake saccharine way either. Nope, this tale is just a very tender tale of a father trying to cheer his son up any silly way he can. It works of course, and you get the feeling that as Pete runs off to play with his fellows, he does so knowing that he's been loved. Pete's father's great, not afraid to chase and hug his boy when the moment calls for it. There are also spots of typical Steigian humor as well. When Pete's mom tickles him and his father informs him that "pizzas are not supposed to laugh", Pete replies (a little peevishly), "Pizza-makers are not supposed to tickle their pizzas!" Hard to argue that point. I'm pleased to report also that Steig lost none of his customary skills with characters and situations in this tale. If I were to compare this story to a more recent picture book, I think I'd have to recommend, "Climbing the Daddy Mountain" by Jules Feiffer. Both books have the same kind of surreal silliness that appeals to kids and adults alike.
William Steig will be missed. He was one of those rare picture book authors that made you truly appreciate how silly the world could be sometimes. Fortunately, he left us some wonderful books, "Pete's a Pizza" being one of the best. It's a wonderful story that's both touching and tenderly made. A real class act.
Rating: 
Summary: Cute and cheerful
Review: It's a rainy day and Pete is in a sour mood. His dad decides to cheer him up by making him into a pizza. He puts him on a table, kneads him, tosses him in the air, and puts toppings on. The game continues with laughs all around until the sun finally comes out and Pete can go out and play. The book is not at all scary. It's a great make-believe book. It has about 300 words.
Rating:
Summary: Cute and cheerful
Review: It's a rainy day and Pete is in a sour mood. His dad decides to cheer him up by making him into a pizza. He puts him on a table, kneads him, tosses him in the air, and puts toppings on. The game continues with laughs all around until the sun finally comes out and Pete can go out and play. The book is not at all scary. It's a great make-believe book. It has about 300 words.
Rating:
Summary: Kids will giggle as Pete is made into a pizza by his folks
Review: My daughters enjoy reading this book, because it shows Pete and his parents having fun on a rainy day. Pete gets made into a pizza, with all the trimmings. Kids will giggle at the thought of Pete being covered in tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni!A fun read, with lovely drawings, and lots of color. A five star book for your child.
Rating:
Summary: Kids will giggle as Pete is made into a pizza by his folks
Review: My daughters enjoy reading this book, because it shows Pete and his parents having fun on a rainy day. Pete gets made into a pizza, with all the trimmings. Kids will giggle at the thought of Pete being covered in tomato sauce, cheese and pepperoni! A fun read, with lovely drawings, and lots of color. A five star book for your child.
Rating:
Summary: a copy for my kids, a copy just for me!
Review: My favorite children's book- oh yeah, my kids like it too. i keep one under my pillow for times when i need a smile!
Rating:
Summary: A book to treasure.
Review: My wife and I are currently expecting our first baby, so we've been prowling the children's sections of bookstores putting together a little library. Of the books we've bought so far, "Pete's a Pizza" is definitely our favorite. We truly love this book; it's sweet and funny and the illustrations are wonderful. We can't wait to read it to our little one -- and to play "pizza" with her as well!
Rating:
Summary: Just So Yummy.
Review: On a rainy day, Pete starts to pout because he can't play ball with his friends. So, his parents make him into a pizza. A great book filled with William Steig's wonderful illustrations. Parents are sure to enjoy playing this game with their own children.
Rating:
Summary: Family fun in a delightful picture book for children.
Review: Pete's in a bad mood because the rain has spoiled his plans to play ball with his friends. His father decides to cheer him up by making him into a pizza. As his mother looks on dubiously, he proceeds to lay Pete on the table, knead him, stretch him, and twirl him in the air. Mom joins in the fun as he adds the oil (water), flour (talcum powder), tomatoes (checkers!), and cheese (paper). After some teasing and tickling, the pizza is ready to come out of the oven, and the sun, too, is ready to come out. A chase and a hug, and the pizza marches out the door with his football; all is well with the world. Steig's simple illustrations are worth a thousand words; the expressions on the character's faces tell all. What a treat to see such playful, loving parents sharing a game that the author himself used to play with his youngest daughter.
Rating:
Summary: Good, simple fun.
Review: This book is an easy read with expressive pictures. Pete's father plays a game with him to cheer him up and his mother soon joins in. It is a sweet family moment, where the family uses lots of imagination. At first, I didn't see the charm in this book. But my three year old twins liked it. They started requesting it more and more often. And I enjoyed reading it each time. It is a "feel good" book. (And, for me, the price of the book is worth just hearing my toddlers say "Pete's a Pizza!") Since my children are so delighted with Pete being made into a pizza, and then seeing the "pizza" run away, I think I will have to try making them into a pizza soon.
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