CDB!


CDB! is a children's book written and illustrated by William Steig, published in 1968 by Simon & Schuster. The book is a collection of pictures with captions written in code, with letters in the caption standing for words the letter's names sound like. The title, CDB!, thus translates as "See the bee !" The illustrations that accompany the codes show scenes which help the reader decode the caption. The cover illustration shows a child pointing out a bee to another child. The book was updated by Steig over 30 years later by adding both color to his illustrations as well as an answer key at the end of the book. Steig followed this book with a sequel, CDC?.
The book's title inspired the name of a chain of pizzerias in the Tampa area, CDB Pizza, which operated from 1975 to 2019. The pizzeria kept copies of the book on tables for customers to read, many of which were taken by customers, resulting in the restaurateurs buying 15,000 copies of the book over the years.