Description: As homey as its subject, a sweet tribute to America's favorite dessert and the love that gets baked into it.
This is just about the perfect day: a morning in the kitchen baking, a bike ride across town with a fresh pie in the basket, and Grampa waiting to share warm slices in the park. Three-time Christopher Award winner Amy Hest narrates in the second person, allowing young readers to identify with the protagonist's burgeoning independence--taking the lead in the kitchen and center stage at a picnic. Illustrator Christopher Thornock renders these simple joys, unplugged and screen-free, in warm, sunlight-washed tones. The Thing About Pie is the perfect book to share at bedtime, circle time, or in the park with a snack.Review Quotes: In the narrative, Hest doesn't spell out everything that's happening, instead leaving some things unspoken for the readers and listeners' imaginations to interpret. At first glance, this volume might resemble a wordless picture book, given how detailed and evocative Thornock's softly colored illustrations are. . . . The glorious, original artwork and empowering story of the simple pleasures of baking and sharing combine into a delectable tale of intergenerational affection and fun.
--Booklist (starred review)
--Publishers Weekly A delectable, deeply felt invitation to see that when it comes to pie, the making and sharing is as rewarding as the eating.
--School Library Journal A homey and original take on the selfless-deed story.
--Kirkus Reviews Readers can think of this quiet adventure as a non-saccharine pep talk for the younger set, where the poetic language and constant second-person repetition of "you" remind kiddos that they can do hard things and find fulfillment in doing them. . . . Thornock's digital illustrations are pencil-like, filled in with pastel colors and creating a visual softness that matches the language, which reads like a lullaby even as it describes a rather exciting day.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books