The Big Cheese: A Review

The Big Cheese




John, Jory. The Big Cheese. Illustrated by Pete Oswald. New York, HarperCollins, 7 Nov. 2023. 34 Pages. $19.99, ISBN 978-0-063-32950-8

Cheese is one of the best to ever do it. They call him The Big Cheese for a reason. He’s the best at everything he does, and he has no problem with letting everybody know. From sports, to theater, to magic shows, everyone can count on The Big Cheese as being the best. One day, Wedge moves into the village. He has the complete opposite personality of Cheese; he’s shy, quiet, and humble.  However, one day the village holds the Cheese-Cathalon, a competition that Cheese has won for the last six years. In the first race, Cheese and Wedge are neck and neck when Wedge wins by just a hair. In fact, Wedge wins every competition. Cheese shows his visible frustration at every loss but at the end of the day, he learns a lesson in humility. After his defeat, he learns to be a supportive friend, to have hobbies just to have fun, and even how to lose humbly. This book is great for reading aloud with its call and response phrasing and boastful energy. Readers will enjoy this entertaining book filled with colorful illustrations, cheesy puns, and a thoughtful message of learning to be humble.

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