Secret Pizza Party

Another cooperative effort between author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri, this iconographic-animated adaptation of their 2013 picture book—narrated by Adam Verner—centers around a raccoon who loves pizza but (being a wild animal without any money) is usually chased from Uncle Mark's Pizza Place with a broom. After considering the possibility of planning a secret pizza celebration and some other less than bright ideas (including wearing stilts and dressing as a human for pizza pickup), the raccoon winds up in a silly chase sequence. Featuring dark nighttime scenes (in consideration of the generally nocturnal main character) and some funny details (the raccoon keeps journals recording the times he's eaten pizza), Secret Pizza Party also includes a read-along option. Recommended. Aud: K, P. (J. Williams-Wood)