I decided that a book about pickles was not going to be my thing before I even started Pickle Words: Crunchy, Punchy Pickles and Poetry. I mean what can you say about pickles? Well, obviously April Pulley Sayre can say a lot about pickles. They have two things going on within the text itself. First they give us the words of pickles, such as crunchy and spicy. Then there are poems talking about how you pickle cucumbers, vegetables, and other items. They also include such things as ingredients for making, how we share these foods with others, and how pickled items can come from all over the world. There is a lot going on in seemingly simple poems.
Everything flows together with Jialei Sun’s illustrations. They too are seemingly simple, but have a lot going on. There are colors that pop, or are soft as needed. There is a boldness to them, but things are not abrasive. Things work well and nothing is really overwhelmed by something else. Sometimes I was not completely in love with the artwork (there is a dad from a profile angle and it makes him look like a very blond, bearded cyclops), but overall things are pleasant and comfortable.
This book is not about pickles, but of course it is. Food is the main theme, but we bring in community and culture as well. There are several extras that tie in the “bigger picture” and how the main text is set up allows for the reader to grow within as there are multiple levels to it. I mean who knew pickles would be so fun, interesting and there could be a whole book for kids?
Read via an online reader copy, due mid-July 2024