Pizza: A Slice of History

Pizza!: A Slice of History
Written & Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
Age Level: 4-8 Years
Published August 9, 2022

*Chef’s kiss*

Pizza is delicious, and that’s an opinion so popular it’s practically a fact. But you’re about to learn a whole bunch of actual pizza facts in this fun, witty book. Did you know that in the United States of America, we eat 350 slices of pizza every second? Or that in Costa Rica they put shredded coconut on pizza, while in Sweden they make a pie topped with curry powder, peanuts, and bananas? Maybe you’ve already learned that the tomato doesn’t come from Italy (they’re thought to have originated in Peru), but are you aware that for centuries, most Europeans refused to eat tomatoes because they thought they were unhealthy and possibly poisonous? When you bite into pizza’s past, you learn all kinds of fascinating things.

“In Russia, they enjoy a pizza topped with four kinds of fish – served cold!”

This book caught my attention when I saw that it’s by author-illustrator Greg Pizzoli who is a three-time recipient of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, an accolade given to books that demonstrate a superior level of creativity and imagination. Pizzoli works his magic again through his lively illustrations, engaging writing, and expert fact-finding. As a bonus, Pizzoli’s craveable spreads featuring pizzas from around the country and around the world might encourage your children to branch out and try a new topping or two.