Pizza is a word that is written on my weekly menu board oh-so-frequently. With one very picky eight year old and two toddlers whose food preferences change as often as the wind direction, pizza is one of those rare foods that pleases everyone. Trying to keep finances and healthy ingredients in mind, I opt as often as I can to make our own, so my kids have had plenty of experience getting their hands all doughy as we fold, roll and stretch homemade pizza dough.
Enter a new book, Tony and the Pizza Champions by Tony Gemignani, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a great read aloud session in our living room. With an almost six year age difference between my oldest and middle child, it’s rare to find a book that truly holds both their interests, but the story of Tony and his team of talented pizza tossers did just that. This vibrantly colored picture book tells the true story of a team of six men, led by Tony Gemignani himself, who have rolled out their pizza tossing skills to the tune of more than ten world pizza championship titles.
The story unfolds as each team member is rounded up from around the country, giving ample attention to the special tricks each man has up his sleeve, until the book concludes with their extra-large finale at the competition in Italy. Children are sure to giggle as they watch pizza dough being tossed around in unbelievable ways, and by the end, you will find yourself cheering for Tony and his team! I personally love when children’s books lend themselves to follow-up experiences, whether it may be art, research or hands-on application. Well, guess what? Of course, this book will make you want to pull out the flour, yeast and olive oil and get working on a dough of your own, but Tony has gone so far as to provide his readers with his very own recipe, and even a page of tossing technique tips as a free side dish. I see a ball of dough sticking to my kitchen ceiling in the near future.
From an entertaining true story accompanied by pictures that virtually rise off the page, to the directions for a delicious meal in your own home, this book has it all. And if you’re really sauced up about Tony and the Pizza Champions, you can even check out additional recipes along with videos of Tony showing off his tricks here.
When she’s not attempting to cook or coming up with really lame puns, Dawn can be found blogging away at my thoughts exactly.
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Jennifer, Snapshot (and 5M4B) says
What a fun book! I used to make homemade pizza a LOT, but now there’s a takeout place that we love, so since we do that so often (2 or 3 times a month), I don’t make homemade as often anymore.