Children’s Book Review: Pete & Pickles
July 1, 2009 by Karlynn Johnston
Filed under Book Nook
I actually did not read this one to my children, because I knew that both my son and daughter would be very upset with some of the scenes in it. I would not recommend this for a sensitive child , the ending is pretty scary where the elephant is in danger. I myself squawked out loud “What!!” as I was reading it,thinking that the elephant was drowning, so there was no way my sensitive boy would not have nightmares after that page.
Regardless, its an amazingly illustrated book, with an incredible story about friendship. The story is fun and quirky, and a delightful read, if your child can handle the little bit of edginess at the end.
Reading level:Ages 4-8
Page Count: 48 pages
Publisher:Philomel
What to expect: the little pig dreams of drowning, the elephant is in a dark caged and chained up, tame adventures though, but at the end a very scary part where the elephant almost drowns,and Pete leaves, but comes back to save her.
Publisher’s synopsis:Pete is a perfectly predictable, practical, uncomplicated pig. At least, he was . . . before a runaway circus elephant named Pickles stampeded into his life, needing a friend. Pickles is larger than life and overflowing with imagination. She takes Pete swandiving off Niagara Falls. (Sort of.) And sledding down the Matterhorn. (Sort of.) Pete goes along for the wild ride and actually begins to enjoy himself . . . until Pickles goes too far. And Pete tells her she must leave.
Yet sometimes the simple life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed offers two new irresistible characters and a heartfelt, hilarious look at the rarity of true friendship.
About the Author:Berkeley Breathed (born June 21, 1957) is an American cartoonist, children’s book author/illustrator, director, and screenwriter, best known for Bloom County, a 1980s cartoon-comic strip which dealt with socio-political issues as seen through the eyes of highly exaggerated characters (e.g. Bill the Cat and Opus the Penguin) and humorous analogies.
Our Rating:[rating=3.5]
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