The Thing About Pie

by Amy Hest, Christopher Thornock (Illustrator)

As homey as its subject, a sweet tribute to America’s favorite dessert and the love that gets baked into it.

This is just about the perfect day: a morning in the kitchen baking, a bike ride across town with a fresh pie in the basket, and Grampa waiting to share warm slices in the park.

Three-time Christopher Award winner Amy Hest narrates in the second person, allowing young readers to identify with the protagonist’s burgeoning independence—taking the lead in the kitchen and center stage at a picnic.

Illustrator Christopher Thornock renders these simple joys, unplugged and screen-free, in warm, sunlight-washed tones. The Thing About Pie is the perfect book to share at bedtime, circle time, or in the park with a snack.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Thanksgiving, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2026

About the author

Amy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what l expected. With the fall-ish colors l was expecting something more seasonal. I think it is actually spring as the garden is full of tulips. Maybe a story about all kinds of pies, different families, different celebrations. Not what l expected, but a good story for younger listeners. Has a patter pattern with use of opposites, color and motion descriptions.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pie is my favorite dessert, so I was excited to see this book. The story has some lovely parts--a book, a pie, and a grandparent, a scent this way and that...
However, having cooked more pies than I can remember, a small fact early in the book really bothered me. I would never "stir" the blueberries--maybe gently fold, or more likely shake the bowl gently with a lid on it to distribute the ingredients; stirring would mash the berries! If you are going to depict cooking, do it right! That being said, maybe the author makes mashed blueberry pies, which would probably taste just fine.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Amy Hest's books because they often focus on kindness and compassion for others. A sweet story about a young boy trying to make and transport a delicious pie to a picnic with his grandfather. Gentle, sweet, and a good message.

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overall, but why isn't the kid wearing a bike helmet?

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

A child gets up early to make a blueberry, and then proceeds to get dressed, wrap the pie up, and take it across town on a bicycle. It's not an easy trip, but there's a lot of time for reflection during the ride. There are some tricky moments, like when a bump sends the pie up in the air, only to land back in the bike basket. The destination is the park, where the child's grandfather is waiting with a book and a blanket to share the delectable baked good. The book ends with a recipe for blueberry pie that wisely starts with "ask a grown-up to help".

Unlike books like Priceman's 1994 How to Make An Apple Pie and See the World (a family favorite!) or Charles and Rewse's How to Grow an Apple Pie that tell how to make a pie, this is more of a lyrical, atmospheric book about the emotions surrounding the anticipation of baking and sharing a pie with a loved one. The child clearly loves the grandfather, and is looking forward to spending time together.

The illustrations underline this gentle story with a golden hue and soft focus feel. The digitally created pictures have a chalk pastel feel, and have the vibe of the the square photographs of the 1970s that seemed to always have a brownish tint to them. The child's hair feels a bit retro as well, with swooping, feathered bangs.

There need to be a lot more servings of pie books, but share The Thing About Pie with a slice of titles like Heavenrich and Kellogg's The Pie That Molly Grew, Charles and Brinson's Apple Pie Tired, and Lowe's The Pie Reports, which is my favorite because of the fantastic drawings of vintage Pyrex!

Making pie is one of my superpowers, but there's something about the philosophical, lyrical language in this book that doesn't appeal to me. It would still make a good choice for a story time on the theme of pie, but I wanted something more interesting and upbeat, but just feelings about pie.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers follow an unnamed and ungendered child with light-colored skin and a mop of shaggy blond hair as they plan and bake a blueberry pie in this cozy and celebratory procedural about making and sharing. An anonymous narrator delivers praise and observations in a soothing and observant voice as the child (with Mom as an onlooker only) consults a recipe, prepares the filling, and rolls out a crust: “the first thing about pie is waking up early to make it. Look at you!”  More engaging sensorial language follows as everyone, including a dog and cat, sniffs “the glorious smell when your pie is in the oven…sniffing left like this – and right like this…”, a great opportunity for read aloud listeners to mimic the text.  A bike ride to the park, accompanied by the joyful dog, introduces a bit of tension as the pie flies out of the front basket, eventually making an improbably safe landing. Grandpa is already there, waiting with a blanket, cold drinks, and a book; sharing dessert with him becomes the very best thing about pie. Thornock’s soft digital illustrations resemble colored pencil work, with plenty of crosshatching to create depth and texture. Their gentle realism creates a safe, enveloping space where pies never burn and mishaps quickly straighten themselves out. Although the child and the pie making dominate both the narrative and the artwork, there’s lots to look at on every page – the dog and cat busily pursuing their own agenda, the diverse neighbors and bus riders getting on with their activities, and the hidden animals in the park creeping out to watch. The story closes with a recipe for making blueberry pie. Lnk to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about baking a pie to bring to her grandpa for a picnic. It's nice enough however the repetition about "the thing" didn't really hit right. Illustrations were fine as well.

I think I was looking for something a little deeper or sweeter about pie that might be a cool read around the holidays or pi day.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about the love between a child and grandfather all wrapped up in the baking and sharing of a blueberry pie. Told in 2nd person the text is descriptive in this quiet story. Would have given it 5 stars, but the illustrations show the child biking without a bike helmet. Blueberry pie recipe is included at the end.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about pie starts out with a general experience that everyone can experience (and writing in the 2nd person helps the reader identify with it), and then moves to a much more specific one that is sweet but didn't really speak to me personally.

[Sassygirl87 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story includes a recipe for "Homemade Blueberry Pie".

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story perfectly complimented by gentle illustrations.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply lovely and it has a recipe for pie!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The child is up early making a blueberry pie to share with one of their favorite people. Illustrations were digitally rendered. On every page throughout the title the color is various shades of beige with yellow overtones making me think of piecrust depending upon how long it is baked.