The Thing About Pie

In the narrative, Hest doesn’t spell out everything that’s happening, instead leaving some things unspoken for the readers and listeners’ imaginations to interpret. At first glance, this volume might resemble a wordless picture book, given how detailed and evocative Thornock’s softly colored illustrations are. . . . The glorious, original artwork and empowering story of the simple pleasures of baking and sharing combine into a delectable tale of intergenerational affection and fun.
—Booklist (starred review)

Like a handwoven lattice crust, this finely worked story by Hest (Bunny Should Be Sleeping) and Thornock (Brave Old Blue) embodies the fruits of painstaking attention. . . . Small in scale yet large in feeling, this unhurried, gently stepwise telling exudes the care that it celebrates.
—Publishers Weekly

A ­delectable, deeply felt invitation to see that when it comes to pie, the making and sharing is as rewarding as the eating.
—School Library Journal

A homey and original take on the selfless-deed story.
—Kirkus Reviews

Readers can think of this quiet adventure as a non-saccharine pep talk for the younger set, where the poetic language and constant second-person repetition of “you” remind kiddos that they can do hard things and find fulfillment in doing them. . . . Thornock’s digital illustrations are pencil-like, filled in with pastel colors and creating a visual softness that matches the language, which reads like a lullaby even as it describes a rather exciting day.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books