Pizza for the Queen [Hardcover]

Nancy F. Castaldo (Author), Melisande Potter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Raffaele makes the best pizza in all of Napoli. It is so good that even Queen Margherita has requested a taste. Raffaele runs around town collecting the finest ingredients for the pizzas he’s planning for the queen, but when a sneaky cat eats the anchovies, he has to revise his plans. Inspired by the colors of the Italian flag, the pizza Raffaele creates is one that delights not only the queen but pizza lovers for generations to come. Accompanied by a generous assortment of rich and detailed acrylic paintings, the story ends with a pizza recipe meant to tempt the taste buds of pizza lovers everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Based on a true story, this charming picture book re-creates the events of June 11, 1889, in Napoli, Italy, which culminated in the birth of the Pizza Margherita, which shows off the red, white, and green of the Italian flag. Raffaele Esposito, owner of Pietro e Basta Così, is reported to make the best pizza in the city. On a typical busy morning, the queen's messenger strolls in to place an order. Queen Margherita wants to taste what the people of Napoli love to eat. So Raffaele sets out to get the finest ingredients. The daylong process that follows will engage the imaginations and taste buds of readers. Arty and amusing color illustrations are full of details that further develop the story, while the description of the pizzas will leave everyone hungry for more. The book includes a recipe, and an author's note provides more information about pizza and this special pizzeria, which still exists.–Julie Roach, Watertown Free Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. In 1889 Naples, pizza-maker Raffaele has received a request from the queen; her servants rave about his pizzas, and she would like to try them. As he shops for ingredients, the vendors protest that their simple ingredients--anchovies, mozzarella--are peasant foods, but Raffaele is determined to offer the queen a taste of what "the people of Napoli" eat. After the anchovies disappear (presumably into a round, white cat), Raffaele improvises, making a vegetarian pie inspired by the colors of the Italian flag and named Margherita in honor of the queen. Some young listeners may grow restless with Castaldo's long text, but others, particularly children interested in cooking, will enjoy the step-by-step story of how such a familiar food is put together. The richly toned, detailed illustrations, reminiscent of Giselle Potter's skewed angles and slightly naive style, extend the action and the sense of history in busy scenes in the kitchen and on the picturesque streets. A recipe for pizza and an author's note, highlighting the story's factual basis, are appended. For more picture books about kids cooking see the Read-alikes: "Kids in the Kitchen" in the October 15 issue. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823418650
• ISBN-13: 978-0823418657
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,318,408 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pizza for the Queen, November 14, 2005

By 

Lisa K - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pizza for the Queen (Hardcover)

"Magnifico!" exclaims Queen Margherita as she enjoys a slice of pizza made especially for her by Raffaele Esposito. Based on a true story, Castaldo magnificently describes the story of Raffaele, the finest pizza maker in Napoli, who is requested by the queen to make a pizza. Raffaele searches the city for the optimal ingredients for the perfect pizza. With inspiration from the red, white, and green of the Italian flag, Raffaele creates a pizza fit for a queen, appropriately dubbed "Pizza Margherita." This delectable story is enhanced with Potter's vivacious illustrations that capture the appetizing quest of Raffaele. With close attention to detail, the intricate pictures are able to express the Italian culture in the late 1800's. The story, as well as the recipe included in the book for "Pizza Margherita," will satisfy children's appetites everywhere.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun artwork, cute story, January 11, 2008

By 

Jo Jo "twin princess mom" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pizza for the Queen (Hardcover)

I borrowed this book from the library and my husband fell in love with it (so we bought it for Christmas for the kids). It's a fun story to read to our daughters. The illustrations are whimsical and fun, and the story is of a pizza maker in Naples who is honored with the task of making pizza for the queen who wants to eat the famed food the local peasants eat. It's allegedly the story behind pizza as we know it today, specifically Pizza Margherita, named for the queen and made with the colors of the Italian flag (red tomatoes, white cheese, green basil). During the story, we follow Raffaele the pizza maker on his journey to the different markets to gather ingredients for his pizza for the queen, giving the reader a quick "flavor" of what shopping is like at specialty markets and introducing young readers to the different wonderful products made in Italy (prosciutto, cheeses, olive oil, etc.) and to the art of pizza making. All is well until Raffaele's cat eats one of the ingredients--what will Raffele make instead? The Italian flag gives him inspiration and his famous pizza is born. A recipe for Pizza Margherita is included at the back of the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightfully Mouthwatering Story, December 12, 2011

By 

Lisa Potocar "2010 ABNA YA Semi-finalist: Swe... (Ballston Lake, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pizza for the Queen (Hardcover)

Through its colorful story and illustrations, Pizza for the Queen transports the reader back to 1889 Napoli, Italy where we are hot on the heels of Pizzamaker Raffaele Esposito as he whisks about gathering the finest ingredients to create some pizzas--ones not only to make his queen's mouth water, but also to allow her a taste of her subjects' favorite delicacies. Bravo to Author Nancy Castaldo and Illustrator Melisande Potter for this treat--tons of mouthwatering fun while we subtly learn about another time, place, and culture!