WILLIEBOY EATS THE WORLD

Sopranos actor Schirripa’s debut picture book follows a dog who’s determined to convince his owner that while there may not be more to life than food, there’s more to food than Italian.

New Yorkers WillieBoy, a narrating dachshund, and his adult owner, tan-skinned Steve (modeled on Schirripa), are strolling through Central Bark when the dog is prompted by the park’s international canine population: “Come visit our places—we’ll teach you the pleasures / of all different foods—they’re a world full of treasures!” Steve would prefer to stick with Italian fare, but WillieBoy is, it must be said, dogged. He and Steve take a joyful gustatory tour of the city, with WillieBoy’s rhymes as color commentary (“A cheese quesadilla, and then quite a lotta / carnitas, burritos, and one enchilada”). The book, an offshoot of the food-focused videos Schirripa has made with his lovable real-life pup, doesn’t feature any children, which may make it less than alluring to young readers. Still, audiences of any age will appreciate the rhymes, which scale new heights of inventiveness, as when “a great big Hurray!—a” sets up “paella.” Schirripa and co-author Lerman also offer a sweet message about how trying new foods can be a gateway to other cultures. Parrish captures it all in caricaturish art that employs as many colors as there are stories—and dishes—in Gotham.

Lovers of food, dogs, and rhyme will eagerly bite.