The Pickwicks' Picnic

July 24, 2017
Dog lovers and vehicle-obsessed readers will all get a kick out of this counting book, which follows the Pickwicks, a family of fluffy white dogs, as they attempt to visit the shore. But they aren’t the only ones on the road (“4 family vans chug by the Pickwick pickup, heading for the box-girder bridge; 5 flashy bikes come around the Pickwick pickup, heading for the box-girder bridge”), and when everyone finally gets to that all-important bridge, it’s closed for repairs, leading to “an unplanned Pickwick picnic by the box-girder bridge!” Through playful repetition and some very expressive vocabulary, Brendler turns traffic-clogged roads and construction delays into an adventure, and Kurilla’s airy cartoons magnify the sense of fun. Party at the box-girder bridge! Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary.

July 15, 2017
A family of dogs escapes the heat of the city for a picnic by the shore, if they can only get through the traffic.The Pickwicks and their charming puppies, Pip and Peach, hit the road in the family pickup truck only to discover that many of their neighbors have had the same idea. They are quickly passed on the road out of town by "3 squeaky jeeps," "8 hasty hatchbacks," and numerous other vehicles. Just as they arrive at the box-girder bridge (a detail repeated several times), they and their traveling companions discover that their means of urban egress has been closed for construction. It is a massive traffic jam! Not to worry: Pip and Peach have just the right attitude for being stuck in a jam, and soon there is a picnic party for all the waiting motorists. Though the family is of canines, as they are fairly anthropomorphic and the parents are belted in, it will likely give many readers pause that the children are riding unrestrained in the bed of the Pickwick pickup. Nevertheless, with darling cartoon illustrations, counting concepts, and all kinds of things that go, this book is sure to have broad appeal for read-alouds. A family romp that demonstrates what a positive attitude and a bit of resourcefulness can accomplish in less-than-ideal circumstances. (Picture book. 4-7)

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