Picture Book: The
Top of the Pizzas
Author & Illustrator: Bill
Basso
Summary: An ugly pizza maker,
called Ogre Pizza-Ola because of his looks & his skill at pizza-making, was
hidden in the kitchen of a popular pizzeria. He loved the children who delighted
in his pizzas, but he stayed hidden as directed. Eventually a nosey woman
discovered him and panic followed. After being fired, he set off to another
city. Alas, the only job he could find was as a substitute gargoyle atop a tall
skyscraper where its owner hoped tourists would come for the best view of the
old city. After weeks, only 1 family
came, exhausted and hungry. Ogre Pizza-Ola asked permission to make pizzas for
the tourists, though there was nowhere to hide. The first group to visit was led by
a teacher who fainted when seeing Ogre, but her children did not. They loved
him immediately because they saw his kindness. After a taste of the pizza, the
teacher was won over too. Many customers followed to taste the pizza and see
the pizza making ogre at the city’s newest and most intriguing pizzeria, The
Top of the Pizzas.
Hanna’s Comments: The
photo above reveals how much my students, children, and I have loved this book
over the years. I especially like the way it gives children the credit for
seeing beyond Ogre’s name and looks. Appearance is too often a place of judgment
or obsession. This book offers an opportunity to talk about those who don’t fit
your culture’s idea of beauty. Then consider how your faith instructs you to
treat such people.
Publisher & Date of Publication: Dodd, Mead, & Company, 1977
Age and Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up
# of Pages: 32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other
than Book: None at present
PBT Category: Rare
but Worth the Search
PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities,
acceptance, babies/children, beauty, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression,
dreams/aspirations, exclusion/inclusion, exile/separation, fear, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition,
gifts/giftedness/talents, hatred, hiding/isolation/separation/walls, injustice,
intolerance, judgment/judges/judging, justice, outsiders, prejudice, purpose,
social justice, stereotypes
Scripture Connections: unless
you become like children (Matthew 18:3); Jesus interacts and heals a bent-over
woman (Luke 13:10-17) and lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this book when talking to children about
judging others especially for their appearance.
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