Review: WillieBoy Eats The World

WillieBoy Eats the World is an exuberant rhyming picture book about a dachshund named WillieBoy and his human companion Steve, who discover that the world is full of delicious food, if only you're willing to try it.

WillieBoy narrates the story with boundless enthusiasm. He and Steve are creatures of habit, perfectly happy with their beloved Italian food, shrimp in spicy sauce, lasagna, linguini with clams, pizza, and cannoli. But a visit to a new dog park changes everything.The park is alive with dogs from every corner of the globe, and when they invite WillieBoy to explore the foods of their homelands, a great culinary adventure begins. The duo discovers that you really can eat the whole word in the space of ten blocks.

The book's greatest strength is its infectious verse. Authors Steve Schirripa and Philip Lerman write with an energetic, rolling rhythm that makes the text a joy to read aloud. The rhymes are clever and playful without feeling forced, and the repetition of food names from around the world doubles beautifully as a geography and cultural lesson.

Kirk Parrish's illustrations burst with colour and movement , food flies through the air, characters tumble joyfully across the page, and every scene radiates warmth and appetite.

The book carries a gentle but meaningful message: that trying new things, even when it feels uncomfortable, almost always leads to delight. Steve's reluctance followed by his wholehearted conversion is something young readers will instantly recognise and hopefully see themselves in. 

Title: WillieBoy Eats The World
Author: Steve Schirripa and Philip Lerman
Illustrator: Kirk Parrish
Publisher: Kashic Books, US$16.95
Publication Date: 21 April 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781636142449
For ages: 3 – 7
Type: Picture Book