The playful title and round smiling face on the jacket are the first hints of the fun that awaits readers between the pizza-box-shaped covers of Pete's a Pizza. When little Pete is in a miserable mood on a rainy day, his parents know exactly how to cheer him up: they pretend he's a pizza. After setting him on the kitchen table, they knead and stretch the dough (Pete), add then oil (water), flour (talcum powder), tomatoes (checkers) and cheese (paper), before carrying him to the oven (couch). Through it all, Pete plays the role to perfection (except for occasional bursts of the giggles) by lying perfectly still with his eyes closed. That is, until he hears it's time for the pizza to be sliced! Steig's droll narrative perfectly complements his amusing, low-key watercolor illustrations which show Pete's mom and dad enjoying the imaginary play as much as their son obviously does. Honor Book, 1999 Charlotte Zolotow Award. (Ages 3-7)

Pete's father starts kneading the dough. Next, some oil is generously applied. (Its really water.) And then some tomatoes. (They're really checkers.) When the dough gets tickled, it laughs like crazy.