Pizza for the Queen

by Nancy F. Castaldo, Mélisande Potter (Illustrator)

Raffaele's pizza is so good that even Queen Margherita herself has requested a taste. Raffaele sets out around town to collect the finest ingredients for his pizza for the queen, but what will he do when a sneaky cat eats his anchovies?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, History, Food, Cooking, Italy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2005

About the author

Nancy Castaldo is an award winning author of children's books, a certified National Geographic educator, and photographer.

She loves writing books for curious readers that get them thinking about the world around them.

Reviews

[Emma Grace Blumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun one! Feb 9 is International Pizza Day- we celebrated a day ahead!

[K. Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book to my son. We absolutely loved it! Little did I know that years later, I would meet the author at a local writers group. Funny how things work out!

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

My little boys loved this story--we probably read it half a dozen times in a few days!

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about the history of the margherita style pizza. It is set in the region where my relatives come from and refers to many local foods and customs that I recognized, making it extra special for me.

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite long for my three-year-old's attention span but what is she more interested in than her second favorite food? Tells the story of how margherita pizza came to be.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

First It must be close to my lunch break because, pizza just sounds really good right now!!

The story is very interesting though not true. In the author's note is explains so I am okay with it. The pictures are weird, but I didn't dislike them immensely . There were a lot of works on each page written in small print, but if you have good eye sight like me, you will be fine!!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A longer and picture book so one on one or preschool about the invention of pizza margarita by a Naples chef creating it for a queen who wants to taste the food of the people.

[Kacee Eddinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered where pizza magherita came from? This short story explores the origin of one of our favorite foods (fictionally of course).

[Isabella]

The pizza man made a good pizza for the queen.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of our families favorites it’s so fun. We’ve easily read it a couple dozen times this year, and with Italian accents 😏

[James Zaksek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always known this story! It was really neat to see this book tucked away at the local library! I enjoyed every page and was hungry the moment it started talking of pizza! Love it!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

n 1889 Napoli, Italy, Raffaele Esposito prepares a special pizza for the queen. Based on a true story. Includes a recipe. Raffaele makes the best pizza in all of Napoli. It is so good that even Queen Margherita herself has requested a taste. Raffaele scurries around town to collect the finest ingredients for his pizza, but what will he do when a sneaky cat eats his anchovies? Inspired by the colors of the Italian flag, Raffaele creates a new kind of pizza that delights not only the queen but generations of pizza lovers to come. Nancy Castaldo tells the story of the first pizza Margherita with beautiful acrylic paintings by Melisande Potter. Also included is a recipe for a delizioso pizza.

[Salsabrarian]

Pizza maker Raffaele Esposito is known througout Napoli, Italy, for his pies. One day a mesenger of Queen Margherita announces that the Queen has heard of Raffaele's pies and wants to know what the fuss is all about. Raffaele is instructed to have a pizza ready for the queen that evening. He visits various shopowners to purchase the ingredients for the pie. Each suggests the best most expensive ingredients but Raffaele decides that if the queen wants to taste the pizza that Napoli eats, he will not diverge from his recipe. The pies meet with the Queen's approval and Raffaele enjoys a surge in business especially for his new Pizza Margherita, a pie fit for the queen. Recipe included.

[Lisa Potocar · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Marissa Hirst · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not my favorite. It was interesting as an older reader and who doesn't love pizza?! There is even a recipe in the back. The text on each page is very well written and descriptive. But for younger children, it can be perceived as long, boring, and uses language that is too advanced for them. Each page also has a large chunk of text that can be too long and not keep the attention of younger ones. I would recommend this book to older children or children interested in food but not to children below the third grade.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text is long but it's well-written with lovely food descriptions: "Then you must take this bottle [of olive oil]. It is the finest in my shop, pressed from chilled olives that were carefully picked. Smell. You will think you were sitting under the tree from which it came. It will make your pizza sing." The illustrations are quirky. Author's note in back briefly tells the origin of pizza Margherita.

[Ashley Correll · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is based on a true story and represents the Italian culture. Raffaele Esposito, owner of a pizzeria, makes the best pizza in teh city. One morning, the queen's messenger comes to the pizzeria to place an order. The queen wants to taaste what teh people of Napoli love to eat. Raffaele sets out ot buy the best ingredients for the pizza. He runs into a few problems when it is time ot make the special pizza. A few themes in thsi book are cooking, hard work, daily life, and patriotism.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of the invention of the Pizza Margherita. Any book that revolves around Neopolitan pizza is pretty good by me. Sometimes I liked the folk-style illustrations, but they mostly kind of creeped me out. Every face generally looked awkward and strange, but I thought the rest of the images were interesting and reflected the rustic style of the story.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole family liked this one and we even made the pizza recipe in the back of the book. I appreciated the setting details and even Italian words sprinkled throughout. Very authentic feeling. The illustrations were just wonderful! They really made this book come alive.

[Chardell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based on the Italian culture. The queen hears about how good the pizza is and wants to taste what the people are talking about. The book is great for talking to students about hard work, and patriotism.

[GraceAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puckish, and delicious.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun art - folk artsy picasso-y, too wordy for storytime, recipe for pizza in the back.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Fun but also historical. Makes you hungry for pizza ;)

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

More for older readers.

[Hannah]

Tale about the invention of Margherita Pizza -yum! There's a recipe in back!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one I'd revisit when the girls are older

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story based on true events, but not my favorite style of illustration.