Common Sense Media Review
Winning illustrations but short on plot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
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 broccoli is as big as trees and it rains popcorn. She gets the idea to transport the giant food from a town that has too much to places that have too little.
Kate also finds that being awake can be just as appetizing -- especially with the return of a travel-weary relative!
Is It Any Good?
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 color, while those depicting her awake state are in black-and-white. There's so much going on in the illustrations that young readers can forgive -- or forget -- the lack of action in the story line itself.
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 in Kate's dream.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about issues like poverty, hunger, and global community. Why would you help someone who lives on the other side of the world whom you've never met? What can you do to help others in your community and beyond?
How does this book compare with the series starter, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs?
What's funny about giant food?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Ron Barrett
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : January 1, 2000
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 7
- Number of pages : 30
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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