Gunnar the Viking’s Great Pizza Adventure

A dissatisfied Viking trades battle axe for pizza oven in a stylish picture book from Vaisberg (Dino, a Pet Unlike Any Other) about finding one’s true calling—one pie at a time. Pale-skinned Gunnar the Conquerer is known as “one of the boldest and bravest of Vikings”; in his horned helmet and red tunic, the warrior tackles hordes all on his own. But years of warfare have left Gunnar feeling empty, and when he stumbles, Goldilocks-like, into an empty cabin where an unfamiliar dish—pizza—is cooking over the fire, he develops a foodie’s obsession with finding “the correct amount of flour and water, the perfect combination of ingredients, and the right temperature to bake it.” In a limited palette of coral, mint, and plum, geometric inflections and screen-printing textures lend a handcrafted quality to the visuals, mirroring the Viking’s artisanal pizzaiolo quest. When Gunnar perfects the dish, even old enemies arrive peacefully to try it, and the pizzeria becomes a beloved gathering place. It’s a savory tale about trading stale goods to feed personal passions—and community, too. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–7. (Apr.)