Pickles to Pittsburgh

The comic-strip illustrations are clear winners with the kids.

Author: Judi Barrett Illustrator: Ron Barrett Pages: 30 Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR Published Date: 01/01/2000 Genre: Fiction - Humor HC Price: $16.00 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Read Aloud: 4+ Read Alone: 6+

Common Sense Note

The comic-strip illustrations are clear winners with the kids, holding their interest through thin slices of plot.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Mary Dixon Weidler

In dreams, all things are possible. That's the lesson Kate learns in PICKLES TO PITTSBURGH, a book that brings together the themes of world community, wanderlust and watercress sandwiches. Unfortunately, the actual plot of the book isn't as filling. Most of the action takes place, ironically, in Kate's dream.

She and Henry fly away to Chewandswallow, a land so abundant in bagels and bon bons that the natives provide daily meals to undernourished countries around the world. The children see a lot of yummy sights--orange-juice puddles and bacon landing strips, for example--though they never really participate in the adventure.

Fortunately for a book that relies so strongly on visuals, the comic book-like drawings are full of action and detail. There is so much going on in the illustrations that young readers can forgive--or forget--the lack of action in the story line itself.

"Look at that butterfly carrying butter!" one eight-year-old reader squealed, inspiring his classmates to point out other delectable particulars found on each page. Another nice touch is that the pages illustrating Kate's dream are done in full Sunday-comics color, while those depicting her awake state are drawn in daily-paper black and white.

This book is a sequel to the popular Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Uncle Willy and the Soup Kitchen, by Dyanne DiSalvo-Ryan, gives this age group a more realistic view of dealing with poverty and hunger.

Plot Summary:

Tasty things can happen in your dreams--and some of them can be downright delicious. Just ask Kate! In a dream, she and Henry fly to the land of Chewandswallow, where the trees look like broccoli and it rains popcorn. Kate finds that being awake can be just as appetizing--especially with the return of a travel-weary relative!

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