[saucy review] Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta by Aimee Lucido and Mavisu Demirağ

~ jama

Bucatini, capellini, spaghettini, tortellini!

Molto delizioso!

Italian pasta names make me happy. Joyful, lyrical, rhythmic — saying them is almost as good as eating them. Hungry? Time to put on a bib, grab a fork, and feast on Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta by Aimee Lucido and Mavisu Demirağ (Beach Lane Books, 2024).

Mangiamo!

In this lip smacking celebration of all things noodle-y, a family of picky eaters gathers for dinner. Their names just happen to rhyme with where they’re from as well as their pasta preferences. Told from a young girl’s point of view, the story begins with the arrival of her grandmother:

Ring-a-ding, the doorbell rings, and oh!/What did my Nonna bring?

Nonna Ana (who’s from Catania and only likes to eat lasagna) wheels in her chicken and some eggs. The girl and her mom get busy making the lasagna from scratch — combining ingredients, rolling out the dough and then cutting it into thin layers.

The next minute, the doorbell rings again. Nonno Titi arrives with a bag full of fresh veggies. “Nonno Titi from Tahiti only eats our spaghettini.” Papa and Mamma proceed to slice and cook the spinach, zucchini, eggplant and onions to go with the spaghettini.

Pasta pasta lotsa pasta/made for Nonno and famiglia!

Guess what happens next? Yep, the doorbell rings again and then again. More relatives arrive with special ingredients to prepare their preferred pastas: Zio Tony from Shoshoni (ravioli), Zia Trini with her cat Houdini (rotini) and parrot Pokey (gnocchi). Finally, Zio Renz arrives with his five bambini. Of course they all want different pastas: two prefer bucatini, two want tortellini, and the baby must have capellini!

Things are getting a leetle crazy.

Bucatini, tortellini -- Oh no, wait! We meant rotini!
Ravioli, spaghettini . . . Didn't someone want filini?

Nonno Titi, Nonna Ana,
pasta pasta too much pasta!
Zio Tony, Zia Trini, Zio Renz,
and my cugini!
And there's Pokey and Houdini.
Ahia! I hope there's some for me!

The kitchen is now full of starving aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents, with Mamma frantically trying to get everything cooked, plated and served. So many people, so many requests! Finally, dishes stacked high, Mamma tells everyone to “Grab a plate!”

And then . . . CRASH!

Pasta pasta, no more pasta. Mama looks around, and . . .

“BASTA!” (Enough!)

Oh, no. What now?

Ring-a-ding, the doorbell rings. Papa asks, “Who could that be?”

Who arrives to save the day? Who can feed this hungry family?

You must read the book to find out: don’t worry, you’ll enjoy the surprise ending and feel relieved that everyone is happily fed. 🙂

Lucido’s rollicking rhyming verse is a blast to read aloud and powers the escalating frenzy to great effect. The repetition of the “Ring-a-ding” lines to introduce each dinner guest, as well as the “Pasta pasta lotsa pasta” refrain frames the action and effectively sustains the high octane momentum of the narrative.

Mavisu Demirağ’s vibrant digital collages pulse with energy, capturing the busyness, vociferousness, and chaotic preparations in the crowded kitchen. Lots of delightful detail — cooking utensils, colorful ingredients, and all those wonderful pasta shapes — provide a mini cooking lesson, as kids can see how lasagna and ravioli are made by hand and how different vegetables and spices are needed to make a good sauce.

Demirağ’s compositions and use of scale are a feast for the eyes; she’s an artist with a refreshing style who loves shapes, textures, and juxtaposing elements in innovative ways. I also like how she portrayed all the characters with their distinctive facial features, hairstyles, skin tones, and expressions. It takes all kinds to make a family who likes all kinds of pasta!

Endpapers display the different pastas mentioned in the story, a yummy lesson for kids who might only be familiar with spaghetti and ravioli. They will definitely crave rereadings, and the book may well whet their appetites to learn about and eat additional types of pasta. Why not try as many as possible? So much pasta, so little time. I am SO hungry.

Don’t miss this mouthwatering intergenerational feast of food, family, fun, and good times. Pass the grated parmesan, please! Buon Appetito!

What’s your favorite pasta shape?

*

PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA
written by Aimee Lucido
illustrated by Mavisu Demirağ
published by Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, July 2024
Picture Book for ages 4-8, 40 pp.
**Starred Review** from Booklist

Amazon
Bookshop

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Lovely and talented Heidi Mordhorst is hosting the Roundup at My Juicy Little Universe. Zip over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being shared around the blogosphere this week. Have a good weekend: mangia, mangia!

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2024 Aimee Lucido, illustrations © 2024 Mavisu Demirağ, published by Beach Lane Books. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2024 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

29 thoughts on “[saucy review] Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta by Aimee Lucido and Mavisu Demirağ”

  2. This one looks like a winner all around! Those illustrations are as filling and nutritious as a ristorante full of pasta! As always, Jama, I appreciate the time and care you take to show us around a book.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I love this book! I think I am going to send a copy to my 3 year old niece for her birthday! Actually, for me it’s Papa Tony who makes homemade rigatoni! That was my dad’s name and he always made homemade pasta! Second best coupled with ceci beans, a delicious soup, is Aunt Betty’s orecchiette! Enjoy your weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. How lucky for you that your dad made homemade pasta – yum!! Aunt Betty’s orecchiette sounds delicious too — little ear pasta (so cute).

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  4. Pingback: chronological book review archive (2008-2024) | Jama's Alphabet Soup

  5. Oh, Jama, not so creative a comment, but this book looks & “sounds” delicious! It’s new to me and I’m sure it will be so loved! We have made my husband’s homemade noodles before but not this kind of pasta. It is fun to make from scratch! As for a favorite, “rotini” is for “me, ME!” Goofy rhyme, but the book really inspires, doesn’t it? Thanks much!

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    1. I’m a big rotini fan too, Linda! Arvie’s homemade noodles sound good. Family recipes are the best — esp. when everyone makes something together.

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  8. Yummy! What a great appetizer for this book. I would pair this book with a kid-friendly early cook book and an apron. What a fun gift pack that would be!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. So. Much. Fun. I can’t wait to get my hands on this! It definitely begs for some pasta art to be made…get out the Elmers and a paper plate!

    My favorite has to be farfalle — little butterflies!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Jama, this book sounds delightful. My husband and I were just talking about ravioli. My Nonnie made delicious pasta-long noodles when I was a little girl. She taught me how to make pasta sauce when I was older. I love linguini and pastina. Thanks for showcasing this book. Have a wonderful day tomorrow.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yum, haven’t had ravioli in ages (I like the ones filled with spinach). How lucky you were to have a grandmother teaching you how to make pasta sauce. I bet it’s really yummy! 🙂

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