Are you looking for some Pizza themed children’s books to use in your classroom that include literacy extension activities? This list may be just what you are looking for!
Pizza can be a great theme to engage your students. It is filled with some exciting literacy experiences to explore. You may have had the opportunity to read some of these Pizza books already, but hopefully some will be a new adventure for you and your kids. Explore with your children the theme of Pizza by trying these engaging books and some of the extension activities suggested.
1. Pizza Day by Melissa Iwai
On a sunny, summer day, a young boy and his father assemble the ingredients for a homemade pizza. This book is the companion book to Soup Day.
From gathering fresh garden herbs to rolling out the dough for a crust. Next, spread on sauce and cheese! This picture book leads young chefs step-by-step through the process of making a favorite meal. A pizza recipe completes this wonderful book.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “To Make Pizza”
- Pizza Counting Student Book Booklet
- Paper Plate Pizza Art Project
- Pizza Numbers & Number Word Counting Game
2. Pete the Cat & The Perfect Pizza Party by James Dean
From the bestselling Pete the Cat series, it’s a groovy pizza party that you don’t want to miss! It’s a party, a party, a perfect pizza party! That’s what Pete thinks as he piles the pie high with his favorite topping pepperoni.
But then his friends come over and add their own toppings to the pizza. Will Pete’s perfect pizza be ruined? There’s only one way to find out! In this picture book full of fun alliteration and tasty foods! Pete and the gang learn that the best kind of pizza is one you share with your friends.
Literacy Extensions:
- “My Favorite Pizza Topping” Classroom Book
- Pizza Retelling Story Graphic Organizer
- Felt Pizza Bookmark Art Project
- Pizza Roll & Bump Math Dice Games
3. Grandpa and Me by Karen Katz
This simple book tells the story of a little girl being taught how to make a pizza with her grandpa. The book includes unique flaps to help illustrate the actions in the story. The one of the pizza dough being thrown in the air is a delight. Every little one will want to make their own pizza after reading this story.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “To Make Pizza”
- Pizza Nonfiction Graphic Organizer
- Pizza Make a Word Family
- Pizza Counting Game
4. Pizza at Sally’s by Monica Wellington
Sally the pizza maker makes pizza. She grows tomatoes in the community garden for the sauce. She gets cheese in the shop down the street. She buys flour from the mill for the dough. Festive artwork shows all her tasks as Sally prepares, mixes, and bakes delicious pizzas.
he perfect tie-in to elementary school lessons about where food comes from, this book will be embraced by teachers. It’s a delightful nonfiction book for the youngest readers, and it comes complete with a recipe so kids can make pizza with Sally.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “Pizza Party”
- “Pizza Toppings Counting” Student Booklet
- “Pizza” Student Story
- Pizza Roll & Cover Math Game
5. Little Nino’s Pizzeria by Karen Barbour
Working together at a family pizzeria goes from cozy to chaotic when the business expands and becomes a big fancy restaurant. No matter how he tries to be helpful, little Tony is now always in the way.
He misses Little Nino’s. But so does someone else, his dad! And in a delightful twist, this simply worded read-aloud delivers a thoughtful message about what success and family are all about. This story connects easily to curriculum on neighborhoods, community, and economics.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “All About Pizza”
- Story Retelling Worksheet
- Pizza Build a Word
- Pizza Add & Subtract Match Game
6. Hi, Pizza Man! By Virginia Walter
It all begins with a simple question posed by a patient mother when her impatient toddler shouts, “I’m hungry!” ‘What will you say when the doorbell rings and we open the door?’ asks Mom.
‘Hi, Pizza Man!’ replies the thoughtful child. But what if it’s a pizza woman? Or a pizza kitty? Or a pizza duck?. The book has a wonderfully satisfying roundness that comes full circle when the doorbell finally rings.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “My Favorite Pizza Topping”
- Story Sequence Worksheet: Sequence events of the story
- Pizza Venn Diagram
- Pizza Numbers & Ten Frames
7. Pizza Counting by Christina Dobson
You can create a picture on a piece of paper, but can you make a picture on pizza? These pages are full of pizza masterpieces that will get your mouth watering.
How many toppings would you need to make a picture-perfect pizza? This book incorporates math skills by having children count the pizza toppings they will need to design each pizza.
Literacy Extensions:
- “Our Pizza” Classroom Book
- Paper Plate Pizza Art Project
- Pizza Letter & Sound Match
- Pizza Math Dice Games
8. How to Eat Pizza by Jon Burgerman
Everyone’s favorite meal has some advice about what kids should be eating, and it is not him! How do you eat pizza? Do you pick the biggest slice? Add hot pepper flakes? Use your hands?
Do you know how your pizza slice feels about that? He thinks it’s disgusting. There are so many other things you could eat that aren’t him. He’s got ideas. This book has bright, bold artwork and real-kid humor which creates a recipe for laugh-out-loud, finger-licking fun
Literacy Extensions:
- Pizza Writing Station Words
- Pizza Sight Word Match
- Pizza Art Project
- Pizza Roll & Bump Math Game
Finally, there are so many Pizza children’s books you can choose from. From Pizza fiction to nonfiction, the list of books is endless. Remember to pick the books that best fit the needs of your students or children and support your learning activities. Happy Reading!
Find some more literacy and extension activities in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more blog topics check out my blog, “A Guide to Using Literature-Based Units of Study.”
