Pizza and Taco Too cool for school

Gr 1--3--Pizza and Taco are excited for the first day of school. Sporting new backpacks and ready to make new friends, the pair is ready for what the school year holds. When new kid B.L.T. arrives, all of the kids (anthropomorphized treats like burgers, hot dogs, and chocolate cake), try to prove how cool they are. The sandwich wears sunglasses and speaks in two-word, nonchalant sentences. Pizza finds sunglasses in the lost and found box and hopes to impress their new friend, but they keep getting to class late, resulting in detention with the crabby Mr. Apple. This graphic novel early chapter book features bright primary colors, dynamic panels, and hilarious digital art that includes talking tacos and pizzas with arms and legs drawn in. The expressive faces of the characters and the food-related puns will elicit giggles from the intended readers. The themes of popularity, trying to fit in, and being yourself will resonate with younger elementary students. VERDICT A fun, early graphic novel back-to-school pick for read-alouds or pleasure reading.--Shelley M. Diaz