""Hi, Pizza Man!""

It's easy to work up an appetite reading this book, which offers an agreeable way to pass the time before dinner. When Vivian tosses her toys aside to announce, ``I'm hungry!'' her mother reminds her that the pizza man is a-coming, and distracts her by asking how she will greet him. The title holds an obvious answer, but Vivian's mother imagines other possibilities-``What if it's a pizza kitty? Then what will you say?'' This prompts Vivian to welcome a parade of imagined pizza-deliverers with ``Meow meow, pizza kitty!''; ``Woof woof, pizza dog!'' and so on until the doorbell rings. First-time children's author Walter's waiting game grows more entertaining when the animals arrive; it's tempting to say hello with moos, hisses and quacks. Likewise, Goembel's (A Basket Full of White Eggs) mom's-eye views of Vivian appear realistic but slightly awkward, while her lifelike ink-and-acrylic animals, framed by a doorway, are considerably more engaging. The final illustration, of a partly eaten slice of cheese and pepperoni pie, looks particularly authentic-readers' thoughts, like Vivian's, will likely turn from pizza beasts to a pizza feast. Ages 2-4. (Mar.)