Kobe Eats Pizza!: And Helps Make It, Too!

by Ashley Wian, Joy Ang (Illustrations)

Based on the internet sensation Kobe Eats, Kobe pulls together all the ingredients to help make dinner for his family in this humorous picture book, Kobe Eats Pizza!

Chef Kobe is the star of the kitchen! With his signature red apron and red chef’s hat, Kobe is ready to make another meal—PIZZA! He uses only the finest ingredients, never spills, and is very patient when waiting for the timer to go off . . .

While cooking is super fun, Chef Kobe always remembers the last, most important step: eating together as a family!

Based on the viral sensation KOBE EATS, this story is as animated and sweet as the popular videos of him cooking online for his family. Joy Ang’s illustrations bring Kobe to life, filling the pages with love and humor.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Family, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as delightful as actually watching Chef Kobe on Instagram! 😊🥰

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Kobe Eats Pizza!, written by Ashley Wian with Cate Berry and illustrated by Joy Ang, a sweet story that shows one is never too young to develop their culinary skills.

Based on the popular social media star of Kobe Eats, the reader meets young Chef Kobe, a toddler who has taken early command of the family kitchen. He has a staff consisting of two dogs and a parent helper, and he cooks all by himself… mostly. With assistance from mom, Kobe prepares some dough, spreads some sauce, and assembles a pizza, with lots of fun along the way. The result is delicious, but one final touch is needed – after all, good food is best when it’s shared with family.

Simple yet charming. Having a little chef of our own, we know the fun that can be had when kids are allowed to help in the kitchen, and Kobe’s story is a sweet, if not particularly innovative, celebration of culinarily-inclined kiddos. Wian’s simple text is great for reading aloud or early readers, and Ang’s wonderfully warm illustrations bring loads of personality to Kobe, his family, and his pet dogs (plus, she makes the food look scrumptious). Especially nice to see is body modification representation; both of Kobe’s parents are heavily tattooed, something that adults are rarely depicted as being in picture books (unless they’re bad guys), and it will surely make inked caregivers feel seen. Otherwise, the length is great for a storytime, and Chef JJ really enjoyed it. A thoroughly enjoyable culinary tale, and we recommend it – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to the Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not heard of Kobe Eats until after I read this book, so I can see as a media tie in it might be a little more interesting. Otherwise, a pretty standard "pizza" book, with nothing outstanding to raise the rating. (I did appreciate seeing the tattooed parents, though!)

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and simple book about a child making pizza (with some help from a grown-up). It has very cute illustrations and the colors are so vivid and nice. I feel like the toppings really pop out. The pizza Kobe makes looks delicious.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The most important ingredient in every meal is love!"

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and sweet book about a boy (with the help of his mom and pets) make a pizza. Comes with a pizza recipe at the back.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of a making pizza for dinner and a recipe at the end

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part was that they were making pizza and I love pizza. That was the whole entire point of this book. I liked the mommy & dadas tattoos too. - Luke

[A.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute easy read for littles

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the inclusion of the mom's tattoos!

[Jolynne Dougherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is okay. Set this book apart for me are the illustrations. You don't see many books with people who have tattoos and this is one of the few that I've seen. There is a fun pizza recipe in the back. I always love when they put a recipe in the book.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple but fun about a child cooking in the kitchen. Another unique thing in this book is both parents have tattoos. You don't often see that representation in books.