Pickles to Pittsburgh (by Judi Barrett)

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!

 

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.

Fortunately for a book that relies so strongly on visuals, the comic book-like drawings are full of action and detail. 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. 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.

Author: Judi Barrett
Illustrator: Ron Barrett
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: January 1, 2000
Number of pages: 30
Hardcover price: $16.00