Pete's a Pizza

Poor Pete. When his plans for playing ball are rained out, he sits and sulks until his parents decide to dress him up as a pizza and toss his butt into the oven. Yipes! A macabre modern take-off on Hansel and Gretel? Not at all. Narrated by Chevy Chase, this fully animated adaptation of William Steig's 1998 picture book will have younger viewers in stitches as Pete's parents lay him on a table and begin kneading the dough (which tickles Pete), twirl him in the air, and add oil (water), flour (talcum powder), tomatoes (red checkers) and cheese (pieces of paper). When Pete's ready, his father carries him to the oven (sofa) and warms his hands over the cooking (and giggling) pizza, which, like the Gingerbread Man, takes off around the room once the time comes for slicing the pizza up. A simple tale, marvelously executed, Pete's a Pizza is guaranteed to make even the biggest curmudgeon grin from ear to ear. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)