Enemy Pie
Derek Munson
(Reviewer - Rev. Marie D. Jones)
2000 Chronicle Books
ISBN: 081182778X

A wise & witty story that will teach quite a few adults an important lesson or two about dealing with enemies.

Associate Reviewer Rev. Marie D. Jones writes:

The first thing you notice about Enemy Pie is the big, round-headed boy on the cover standing before a huge pie filled with worms & weeds. You realize you are in for a treat when you begin to read this delightfully told & illustrated tale about the right way to deal with an enemy.

Enemy Pie centers on a typical little boy who has a pretty good life, until a real bona fide enemy appears on the scene. The enemy -- one Jeremy Ross, is not only a tease, he's just plain nasty. The boy turns to his wise & knowing Dad for advice on how to deal with his new enemy, & Dad's suggestion is to offer a secret treat called Enemy Pie.

Seems only Dad knows the ingredients, so the boy agrees & lets him prepare the pie. But first Dad tells his son he will have to spend the entire day with Jeremy, his enemy. Then & only then, will this mysterious thing called Enemy Pie be able to work correctly & vanquish the unwanted enemy once & for all.

What happens next is a neat & witty twist that serves up a sweet lesson in friendship. Seems Dad's special Enemy Pie does exactly what it is supposed to do, which isn't what his son expected. It vanquishes the enemy, but not quite the way the boy had imagined it would.

Enemy Pie is a book both children of all ages & adults will laugh over, & learn from. Derek Munson's story is fun & engaging, & the illustrations by Tara Calahan King, an artist & muralist with a truly unique style, are boldly colorful, wacky & whimsical, with the characters sporting hilarious oversized heads.

My toddler has made Enemy Pie his favorite book, demanding it be read to him over & over. I doubt he yet understands the profound message contained in this adorable kid's book, but he will soon enough, & I hope he takes it to heart & learns to make his own special version of Enemy Pie.
(07/18/04)

Rev. Marie D. Jones
2004©Marie D. Jones
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
Marie Jones is a New Thought minister, author of Looking For God In All The Wrong Places & a widely published writer of inspirational essays, gift books, short stories & magazine articles. She is also a screenwriter, & has produced a children's storybook video series for Gigglebug Farms Productions. she holds a Masters Degree in Metaphysical Studies & is a licensed pastoral counsellor.