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.