From: Steven Engelfried <stevene>
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 21:58:10 -0800

I've used all three books in preschool storytime. They were all successful, but "Pete's a Pizza" is really something special as a read aloud. Such a simple idea, but it works perfectly. The action is silly, but the words are straightforward and descriptive. It's impossible to read it without hitting the tongue in cheek tone that the author intended. I love the parenthetic bits ("they were really pieces of paper...") that bring the reader right into the game. Plus the joyful family playfulness that comes through...that dad is having at least as much fun as Pete. This is the type of book that stumps me around Caldecott time. I thought the illustrations in "Snow" and
"No David" were more distinguished, even though the "Pete's a Pizza" drawings are just right for the book. It's the storytelling of words and text combined that is so unique.

I also think it's interesting that these three books are deservingly honored for their text, but none of them use very many words. It confirms that the best written picturebooks are the ones where the words work closely with the pictures to tell the story.

Steven Engelfried, Children's Librarian Deschutes Public Library 601 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97701 ph: 541a7p72 fax: 541a7p73 e-mail: stevene at deschutes.org
Received on Tue 23 Mar 1999 11:58:10 PM CST