Pizza for Birds

I cannot tell you how much fun family storytime was with Bob Shea's "Pizza for Birds"! If you loved "Chez Bob", you're going to get such a kick out of this follow-up. The story follows Bob, our favorite alligator restaurateur, as he deals with some serious competition from Ryan, the new pizza-slinging, bike-riding hotshot alligator in town. The way Bob gets all wound up about possibly losing his "coolest restaurant" status had my kids giggling.
What really impressed me was how the book tackles online behavior and impulse control without coming across as what my kid calls “a learn something book.” We all know how quickly kids can tune out when they feel like they're being lectured, and Shea manages to perfectly balance on the line between making sure kids get the lesson and not making them feel like they are learning a life lesson. When Bob posts not-so-nice reviews of Ryan's pizza, it opens up fantastic discussions about thinking before we act and the ways our actions can impact others. The digital conflict piece feels especially relevant now that so many of our kids are navigating social media earlier and earlier.
The absolute heart of this book, though, is its honest look at making things right after a mistake. I appreciate how it shows Bob's genuine apology and Ryan's very real reaction - tears and angry shouting and all. It's refreshing to see a picture book that doesn't wrap everything up with a neat little bow. In my experience, kids really respond to this kind of authenticity.
While I would have loved to see a bit more of the healing process between Bob and Ryan, this book has become a go-to for storytime in our house because it gets us talking about kindness and responsibility, both online and off. It's perfect for your next class discussion or family reading time, especially if you're looking to address digital citizenship or conflict resolution.