Pickles, Please!

February 15, 2011

Alec enjoys pickles' snappy yumminess in all their great shades and variations, but no one understands his heartfelt adoration for them. Though he earnestly expresses their "picklicious" qualities at every opportunity, his family and classmates bluntly point out their vinegary shortcomings. "Pickles won't fetch sticks. / You can't play sports with them. / They make terrible kites." The child's quirky fascination leaves him with a haunting sense of loneliness. A cucumber truck randomly appears at this low moment, and Alec hops aboard. He experiences the pickling process firsthand until Inspector 105 scoops him off the conveyor belt and straight into the hands of the company's president, who sees a golden marketing opportunity. Alec's catchy slogan catapults the boy to local-celebrity status, and the once-scoffed-at vegetable becomes a popular treat. The illustrations include some humorous details, with pickle-shaped objects adorning the factory's space, and quivering lines denote Alec's vulnerability. There's not much pizzazz in the descriptions, though, to spice the lackluster narration. "His parents were very proud. His friends were very surprised." Alec is earnest enough, but his campy enthusiasm is a bit hard to choke down and leaves behind a slightly sour aftertaste. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 2-Alec Smart's passion for pickles stumps his parents and his friends, and he often finds himself sitting alone at the school lunch table. But things change when he spots a truck filled with pickles and decides to climb aboard ("KIDS...Never climb on a cucumber truck without calling home first!!"). Alec finds himself on an adventure to the local pickle factory, where his love of pickles inspires the owner to use "Picklicious" as a slogan, with Alec leading the pickle parade the next day. This feel-good story conveys the subtle meaning of believe in yourself and people will believe in you. The use of white space draws readers in, and bright colors burst from the pages, which are awash in green. This whimsical story works well as part of a food-themed storyhour or a fun shared reading with a favorite pickle enthusiast.-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI

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