Blueberry Pizza– The Book with No Pictures

The Children’s Book I Want to Hate (but I just can’t)

Why would I hate an amazing book like The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak?

Jealousy. Pure, unadulterated jealousy.

The concept is so simple, yet brilliant. With no illustrations, this book could have just as easily been published on a home computer. Why didn’t I think of this?!?

And kids absolutely adore it.

My second son claimed it as his favorite when he was only 18 months old. That blew my mind. There are seriously no pictures! Why would it hold a baby’s interest?

Because, as the book says, it “makes grownups have to say silly things.”

He would find this book buried in a pile of other books time and time again. The dust jacket was long gone (superfluous as they are for children’s books).

Then, tragedy struck.

A stomach bug blew through our household. Sadly, this beloved book got in its path and became collateral damage. My oldest son was devastated for his brother. (I’m so sorry! I threw up on The Book With No Pictures! I didn’t mean to!)

Busy with the holidays and other life events, time went by, until I finally remembered to pop it in my Amazon cart. And so the baby was reunited with his favorite book after about two months apart from it.

Truly a brilliant book, and one that you won’t mind reading again and again.

Making the Book Come to Life

As fun as it is to read it, I wondered what he would think about recreating a piece of it?

You know how hard it is to make mealtimes interesting enough so that your kids actually eat the food, right?

Well, how about a simple lunch (or breakfast) that has a funny name kids will love, and as a bonus, is actually healthy? I say that’s a win.

And My Head is Made of Blueberry Pizza

The recipe for blueberry pizza couldn’t be easier. Here’s my secret: we use pre-packaged naan at least once a week. This is the brand I typically find at my supermarket, but I’m sure that other brands would work just as well. As a healthy bonus, I buy the whole grain version. It makes the easiest pizza EVER. Just spread your toppings on and pop it in a 425 degree oven for about 7 minutes. So good.

For the blueberry pizza, I pre-cooked the naan in a skillet– just a couple of minutes on each side with a dab of butter.

Next, I spread them with a thick layer of cream cheese.

For the blueberries, I used both frozen (thawed in the microwave first), for that yummy purplish drizzle, and fresh (for the flavor). You could use either option or both.

Laughter all around, and I’m sure we’ll make blueberry pizza again.

Tips for the Best Blueberry Pizza

Let the cream cheese sit on the counter for a few minutes before you start so it spreads without tearing the naan. Whipped cream cheese also works if that is what you have in the fridge. No naan? Pita, a toasted English muffin or a flour tortilla crisped in the skillet will hold the toppings just fine.

If you are feeding a baby or a young toddler, squish or quarter the blueberries first, since whole round berries can be a choking hazard for little ones. Cutting the naan into strips makes it easier for tiny hands to grab, too. A sprinkle of cinnamon is a nice extra, but hold the honey for any baby under one year old.

Making It Ahead and Storing It

Blueberry pizza is best eaten right after you build it, while the naan is still warm and a little crisp. You can wash the fresh berries and thaw the frozen ones ahead of time, then keep them covered in the fridge for a day or two. Any leftovers with cream cheese belong in the fridge within two hours, and they will keep until the next day, although the naan does go soft.

More Books for Reading Out Loud

The fun of The Book With No Pictures is that the grownup is the whole show, so commit to the silly voices and do not hold back. If your little reader is ready for something with a bit more heart, try these children’s books about helping others.

The Book With No Pictures is laugh-out-loud fun for kids of many ages and grownups alike. Have you discovered it yet?

What books do you wish you could hate, but they’re just too dang fun? Let me know in the comments!