Young Children

Pipo thinks that pizza is the best. No, Pipo knows that pizza is the best. It is a scientific fact. But when she sets out on a neighborhood-spanning quest to prove it, she discovers that “best” might not mean what she thought it meant.

I didn’t go into this book with any expectations. I didn’t even read the summary. I was drawn in by the bright blue cover.

I loved Pipo’s scientific approach to pizza. In fact, the only reason she decides to try new food is to scientifically prove that pizza really is the best.

This is an exceptionally clever story that teaches open-mindedness. Many foods can be the best, and it’s a great way to introduce kids to other foods from different cultures.

When it comes to pizza, I have high standards. The crest needs to be thick (not like cardboard), with just the right amount of sauce and lots of cheese. I’ve had many pizzas over the years. Some were great, some were good, and some I had to choke down.

Interesting Fact: the man who wrote this book, J. Kenji López-Alt, is the managing culinary director of SeriousEats.com, author of the James Beard Award-nominated column The Food Lab, and a columnist for Cooking Light. Basically, this man knows his food.

There’s a recipe for Pipo’s pizza at the end of the book for young children to cook with their parents. I enjoyed reading the humorous instructions.