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Pete & Pickles
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.
Pulitzer Prize?winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed offers two new irresistible characters and a heartfelt, hilarious look at the rarity of true friendship.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2008
6 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Berkeley Breathed
90 books416 followersGuy Berkeley "Berke" Breathed 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
October 24, 2014
...Because he's lonely, Dad. ...But he doesn't know it."
I think that's true of a great many people.
I read this to my daughters the night before last. We review maybe a third of the books we read together. I always try to make time to review the ones I really love.
The pictures in this are stunning. Surreal; dream-like. I felt like I was reading a children's book by a Salvador Dali, George Orwell, Roald Dahl, Bill Watterson, Banksy, and ... I don't know... all my favorites.
I couldn't catch all the influences - only the most intentional ones:
Hokusai's "The Great Wave", for instance:
Or Edward Hopper's Nighthawks
Some of the most moving characteristics of the book are found on the fringes - not hidden, exactly - but not broadcast either. Paprika's grave, and then reminders of Paprika scattered throughout - the pictures, the blanket that is now covering Pickles. Loneliness comes in many forms, and maybe there is a loss that is always with us.
The book - both the story and the art - traverse light and dark. At times very dark for a book written for children. But it was beautiful. And I think the kids can handle it.
I think that's true of a great many people.
I read this to my daughters the night before last. We review maybe a third of the books we read together. I always try to make time to review the ones I really love.
The pictures in this are stunning. Surreal; dream-like. I felt like I was reading a children's book by a Salvador Dali, George Orwell, Roald Dahl, Bill Watterson, Banksy, and ... I don't know... all my favorites.
I couldn't catch all the influences - only the most intentional ones:
Hokusai's "The Great Wave", for instance:
Or Edward Hopper's Nighthawks
Some of the most moving characteristics of the book are found on the fringes - not hidden, exactly - but not broadcast either. Paprika's grave, and then reminders of Paprika scattered throughout - the pictures, the blanket that is now covering Pickles. Loneliness comes in many forms, and maybe there is a loss that is always with us.
The book - both the story and the art - traverse light and dark. At times very dark for a book written for children. But it was beautiful. And I think the kids can handle it.
July 22, 2018
A decidedly quirky book about an unusual friendship, which had me chuckling by the second page.
September 17, 2010
One of my favorite picture books, Pete and Pickles is a story of friendship and appreciating the differences our friends bring to our lives. I love that the idea grew from a sketch by Berkeley Breathed's daughter who, when asked why the elephant is holding the pig in the sketch, said "The pig's sad." "Why?" "Because he's lonely, Dad...But he doesn't know it."
While some may feel there's too much 'dark' in the book to make it appropriate for children, I"m one who believes our children are capable of making much deeper connections than we think and understanding complicated issues in a way appropriate for their ages.
I love the message that we can change our opinions of people and that we take care of those we love. I love that Pete learns to appreciate the craziness Pickles brings to his life. I love the illustrations and the messages they send. I love this book.
While some may feel there's too much 'dark' in the book to make it appropriate for children, I"m one who believes our children are capable of making much deeper connections than we think and understanding complicated issues in a way appropriate for their ages.
I love the message that we can change our opinions of people and that we take care of those we love. I love that Pete learns to appreciate the craziness Pickles brings to his life. I love the illustrations and the messages they send. I love this book.
March 9, 2012
Something about this book is just beyond beautiful. All about noticing what someone else needs and stepping up to provide it. But also not serious at all - silly, delightful, full of joy. Quickly moved to the top of my favourite picture book pile!
This book created by Berkeley Breathed has many themes I like to address through picture books: courage, friendship, and diversity. But it is also about love. It celebrates love in the happiest and most joyful of ways. But it doesn't scrimp on the realities of love: loss, pain, frustration, forgivesnss, sacrifice. Love is all of it and this book delivers. It takes you on a journey sailing through a myriad of emotions and delivers you on the other side, changed. Better. Brighter. Exhausted. I have read this book now multiple times and it is as lovely shared as it is in a solo reading. It insists on repeated readings. It is a book I had to instantly own so I could revisit it anytime I wanted. I LOVE this book. Pete & Pickles reminds us that relationships are the antidote to loneliness. And sometimes they arrive in your life in the strangest of ways.
This book created by Berkeley Breathed has many themes I like to address through picture books: courage, friendship, and diversity. But it is also about love. It celebrates love in the happiest and most joyful of ways. But it doesn't scrimp on the realities of love: loss, pain, frustration, forgivesnss, sacrifice. Love is all of it and this book delivers. It takes you on a journey sailing through a myriad of emotions and delivers you on the other side, changed. Better. Brighter. Exhausted. I have read this book now multiple times and it is as lovely shared as it is in a solo reading. It insists on repeated readings. It is a book I had to instantly own so I could revisit it anytime I wanted. I LOVE this book. Pete & Pickles reminds us that relationships are the antidote to loneliness. And sometimes they arrive in your life in the strangest of ways.
August 25, 2012
Fantastic - and yes, I did read it to my children
Pete & Pickles is the story of a lonely, widower pig and an exuberant, outgoing elephant that escaped from a circus. According to the back flap, it was inspired from a drawing that Breathed's five-year old made in a restaurant. She drew an elephant hugging a pig in its trunk.
Breathed asked why the elephant is holding the pig.
"The pig's sad."
"Why?"
"Because he's lonely, Dad...But he doesn't know it," she whispered.
Pete is indeed lonely. He misses his wife who has died. Pickles comes into his life unexpectedly and turns it all over and, in a way, saves it. Or, at least makes it worth living.
I cannot imagine the adult that does not tear up at the end of this book (I've got no qualms with it - this 40 year old Republican darn near cried!).
On top of a great story you've got great pictures. The art is top-notch. Careful observation will show you that Breathed previews most of the book with the art on the walls of Pete's house. It's something fun to go back and look at with the kids.
As for those reviewers that claim that this is inappropriate for kids, I say, "Phhphhtt!"...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
Pete & Pickles is the story of a lonely, widower pig and an exuberant, outgoing elephant that escaped from a circus. According to the back flap, it was inspired from a drawing that Breathed's five-year old made in a restaurant. She drew an elephant hugging a pig in its trunk.
Breathed asked why the elephant is holding the pig.
"The pig's sad."
"Why?"
"Because he's lonely, Dad...But he doesn't know it," she whispered.
Pete is indeed lonely. He misses his wife who has died. Pickles comes into his life unexpectedly and turns it all over and, in a way, saves it. Or, at least makes it worth living.
I cannot imagine the adult that does not tear up at the end of this book (I've got no qualms with it - this 40 year old Republican darn near cried!).
On top of a great story you've got great pictures. The art is top-notch. Careful observation will show you that Breathed previews most of the book with the art on the walls of Pete's house. It's something fun to go back and look at with the kids.
As for those reviewers that claim that this is inappropriate for kids, I say, "Phhphhtt!"...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
Read
March 4, 2010Pete has the same routine day in and day out, but Pickles comes along and helps Pete break free from his daily routines.
The pictures in Pete & Pickles involves a couple different forms of art to help bring across how Pete is feeling. One type of art found in the book is a very old fashion form of cartoon, where it is almost all black and white, except for a small flash of color. The other type of art is very colorful and animated pictures and are completely fantasy, but the pictures almost seem to be real at the same time (confusing, I know!). It’s very interesting that the old fashion pictures go along with when Pete is feeling very uncertain or uncomfortable. Pete is being “boring,” so the pictures are also somewhat boring, with the fact that they are black and white. When Pete is going out of his shell and having a great time, the pictures go along with that and are very entertaining and bright! I think the art is this book is fantastic and really go along with the book!
The pictures in Pete & Pickles involves a couple different forms of art to help bring across how Pete is feeling. One type of art found in the book is a very old fashion form of cartoon, where it is almost all black and white, except for a small flash of color. The other type of art is very colorful and animated pictures and are completely fantasy, but the pictures almost seem to be real at the same time (confusing, I know!). It’s very interesting that the old fashion pictures go along with when Pete is feeling very uncertain or uncomfortable. Pete is being “boring,” so the pictures are also somewhat boring, with the fact that they are black and white. When Pete is going out of his shell and having a great time, the pictures go along with that and are very entertaining and bright! I think the art is this book is fantastic and really go along with the book!
August 21, 2011
Pete, a "perfectly practical pig" saves Pickles, the boisterous elephant, from the circus. Pickles and Pete strike up a joyful friendship until Pete simply can't handle the chaos that Pickles brings into his life. After a very scary flood, Pete realizes that his friend truly makes life worth living.
There is so much to love about this book. The illustrations are an important part of this complex story. Early in the book, we see that Pete has several well know paintings hanging on his wall. Breathed uses these pieces of art throughout the book in a way that is fun, interesting, and thoughtful. Breathed also uses a variety of styles, which really enhances the tone and feeling of the story.
I'm not sure that this is a great book to use for instruction in a library program and I'm not sure that it would make a good whole group read aloud. But it's a wonderful book and I look forward to reading it to my own children one day.
There is so much to love about this book. The illustrations are an important part of this complex story. Early in the book, we see that Pete has several well know paintings hanging on his wall. Breathed uses these pieces of art throughout the book in a way that is fun, interesting, and thoughtful. Breathed also uses a variety of styles, which really enhances the tone and feeling of the story.
I'm not sure that this is a great book to use for instruction in a library program and I'm not sure that it would make a good whole group read aloud. But it's a wonderful book and I look forward to reading it to my own children one day.
November 9, 2017
This book came out after "Mars Needs Moms!", and it seems Breathed clearly improved his computer illustration skills between books. Gone were the overly muddy tones and blurry edges. There was a competent crispness to the art in this book, and a brightness to the colors that was celebratory. It matched the tone of the story.
One thing I enjoy about Breathed's stories is that he doesn't shy away from death, but he introduces it in a non-threatening manner. The story opens with Pete vacuuming his wife's grave. This is both sad and comical. When Pickles makes the scene, Pete is still a dark, sad pig bereaving his wife, wanting nothing to do with other people, and dreaming of drowning. However, Pickles leaves an impression upon his mind, leading Pete to take risks, break out of the box he buried himself in, and live again. However, Pickles is not perfect. When Pete has had enough and kicks her out, the conflict is not resolved in a slight way.
This story is over the top and epic. Nothing exemplifies it better than the two page spread that requires the reader to run the book sideways. It's visually impressive with the water and the masterful character renderings. Death again plays a theme in Breathed's work, but his main character is transformed by it, not defeated. This is a delightful, quirky story that will uplift the reader.
Fans of Bloom County may experience a faint sense of nostalgia in this whimsical tale of two misfit friends. There is more than a spiritual kinship to Bill & Opus to be found in Pete & Pickles. I can't believe I took nine years to find this gem.
One thing I enjoy about Breathed's stories is that he doesn't shy away from death, but he introduces it in a non-threatening manner. The story opens with Pete vacuuming his wife's grave. This is both sad and comical. When Pickles makes the scene, Pete is still a dark, sad pig bereaving his wife, wanting nothing to do with other people, and dreaming of drowning. However, Pickles leaves an impression upon his mind, leading Pete to take risks, break out of the box he buried himself in, and live again. However, Pickles is not perfect. When Pete has had enough and kicks her out, the conflict is not resolved in a slight way.
This story is over the top and epic. Nothing exemplifies it better than the two page spread that requires the reader to run the book sideways. It's visually impressive with the water and the masterful character renderings. Death again plays a theme in Breathed's work, but his main character is transformed by it, not defeated. This is a delightful, quirky story that will uplift the reader.
Fans of Bloom County may experience a faint sense of nostalgia in this whimsical tale of two misfit friends. There is more than a spiritual kinship to Bill & Opus to be found in Pete & Pickles. I can't believe I took nine years to find this gem.
February 28, 2020
Just added to my goodreads list and this is about the 20th time I have read it. It touches my heart every single time n
February 3, 2022
While I think this book had a great moral, I don't feel it was 100% appropriate for children.
Pete the pig is engulfed in a life of grief, when the ray of sunshine, Pickles comes along and flips his world upside down. This book is an emotional roller coaster.
Pete the pig is engulfed in a life of grief, when the ray of sunshine, Pickles comes along and flips his world upside down. This book is an emotional roller coaster.
February 23, 2017
When Pete, a pig, rescues Pickles, an elephant, from the circus, his life becomes a lot more complicated.
And a whole lot more wonderful!
And a whole lot more wonderful!
August 17, 2018
Berkeley Breathed teaches us an important lesson about our lives; how it is, what we think it is, and how it should be. Pete is a practical pig who has it all figured out. A perfect life on his own. He thinks his life is quite grand and goes day by day being practically perfect. Until, he meets Pickles. Pete does not think he needs Pickles in his life. Pickles adds a bit of sparkle and spunk to Pete's mundane and routine day to day. This causes Pete to become quite furious when he notices how much chaos Pickles is really creating in his schedule. But what happens next will come as a surprise to both Pete and the readers of the book.
This picture book inspires us to let go and let live. Sometimes, we think we know what is best for ourselves.. but maybe we just do not know any better. I think we all need a little sparkle in our lives, don't we?
This picture book inspires us to let go and let live. Sometimes, we think we know what is best for ourselves.. but maybe we just do not know any better. I think we all need a little sparkle in our lives, don't we?
April 9, 2014
This is an entertaining, but very odd tale about friendship and companionship, grief and healing. The narrative is fairly short and still appropriate for younger children.
The illustrations are marvelous and really reminded me of Berkeley Breathed's genius in his Bloom County series.
Overall, we loved the relationship between Pete and Pickles and we loved the art references. There are so many details that I picked up the second time I read this book that I missed on the first go-around. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
The illustrations are marvelous and really reminded me of Berkeley Breathed's genius in his Bloom County series.
Overall, we loved the relationship between Pete and Pickles and we loved the art references. There are so many details that I picked up the second time I read this book that I missed on the first go-around. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
September 29, 2016
I've long loved Berke Breathed's Bloom County comic strip, though I missed the Outland boat. I didn't know he wrote picture books in the early 2000s, and I'm glad I found that out. This is a powerful story about change and finding friendship and love after tragedy. It's a quintessential crazy-girl-stirs-up-the-proper-wounded-man story, but the conventionality serves all the more to contrast the twists of plot and character that Breathed concocts. Ponderous illustrations--symbolically strong color and shades of dark and light. With this and _Mars Needs Moms_, Breathed raises the stakes in his picture books to the life-and-death levels of original fairy tales.
May 20, 2015
This is a simpler story than many of Berkeley Breathed's other books and better suited for young children. The illustrations are beautiful, and his always are. But the most impressive thing about the illustrations is that the story idea AND the two main characters came from Breathed's 5 year old daughter.
Don't miss reading the back, inside cover flap and looking at the illustrations for the touching source of this book. His daughter has clearly inherited or learned her father's story telling abilities as well as his artistic talents.
Don't miss reading the back, inside cover flap and looking at the illustrations for the touching source of this book. His daughter has clearly inherited or learned her father's story telling abilities as well as his artistic talents.
December 2, 2013
I loved this book! The friendship of two unlikely friends, Pete and Pickles, would be great to introduce how two different people can still be friends. Because this book uses a lot of alliteration and colons,it would be great for a grammar or voice lesson. This book has a great story of friendship and wonderful illustrations! After reading this story, teachers could use this story for a creative journal prompt also.
December 7, 2013
There is no substitute for true friendship and a great imagination. Students will be able to make an instant connection with the text as friends always use their imagination while playing to transport themselves into another time or world. A wonderful conversation may root from the reading of this book regarding friendship development from interacting with someone.
March 27, 2011
Read for CYRM picture book award. I must say that I found parts of this book rather confusing. Kids had trouble getting the references to Pickles' imaginary journeys. And some were confused whether the pair died in the end. Funny illustrations, sweet friendship, but rather odd in places.
February 10, 2017
Pete & Pickles - Berkeley Breathed It's marvelous, but the pig-and-elephant friend territory sort of seems like Mo Willem's. Love the dust jacket showing the daughter's original sketch.Moral: Even elephants can be manic pixies!
Library copy
Library copy
November 22, 2008
Quirky, humorous and endearing. A pig and a runaway circus elephant become unlikely friends. Unusually fun illustrations (integral to the story, which many titles seem to be moving away from).
March 19, 2009
SO CUTE!! Got it in today at PPLD and it's adorable. Best for ages 5-8, really cool illustrations and some themes/humor that only adults will pick up on. Highly highly recommended.
April 30, 2015
I love this story of two unlikely friends... Again... Tears!
November 4, 2016
It's a nice picture book about friendship. Nice illustrations.
October 16, 2019
I read this aloud to my toddler. I had no idea what to expect at the end and had many interruptions while reading. Yet despite the interruptions, as we neared the last few pages, the tears started and progressed to sobs. Then I promptly offered to read it again and cried from page one. I get it. It hits close to home this year with my mom dying. My three year old has had to deal with figuring out death and grief through me this year. This book is beautiful. It is accessible to the heart without really needing to say much about the subject of loss or loneliness. Fear, friendship, frustration, anger, sacrifice, joy, laughter, silliness, playing pretend, adventure, love. Even character development and a great story arc. All are within these pages.
I also loved the small odes to art and film and famous places you can find in the illustrations.
I really loved the “Niagra Falls” adventure. So fun and truly as a child would live the experience.
The pig saved the elephant, the elephant the pig, the pig the elephant. Back and forth. They saved each other in the way most needed by each. The way we need to save others and be saved. The way we need to be rescued when grieving. The way we need to be rescued when trapped or chained down by life. If someone were to ask me, “what can I do to be there for you at this time?” I would say, “Be like Pickles.” She needed help as much as or more than Pete. But she smiled at the worst. She brought joy to the dark corners. She made mistakes even though she was trying. But she was there even if she wasn’t very tidy about it. She was there where she needed to be. That is the friend we need when grieving.
Or I would say, “be like Pete.” He recognized the elephant in the room. He noticed the beauty within the mess. He stepped out of his comfort zone to do the right thing. He lifted when he could, also made mistakes, and holds on to help her despite facing his greatest fear in order to do so. He comes along for the wild ride and sings on the way even if he isn’t any good at it. That is the friend we need when life is chaining us down.
I loved it.
I also loved the small odes to art and film and famous places you can find in the illustrations.
I really loved the “Niagra Falls” adventure. So fun and truly as a child would live the experience.
The pig saved the elephant, the elephant the pig, the pig the elephant. Back and forth. They saved each other in the way most needed by each. The way we need to save others and be saved. The way we need to be rescued when grieving. The way we need to be rescued when trapped or chained down by life. If someone were to ask me, “what can I do to be there for you at this time?” I would say, “Be like Pickles.” She needed help as much as or more than Pete. But she smiled at the worst. She brought joy to the dark corners. She made mistakes even though she was trying. But she was there even if she wasn’t very tidy about it. She was there where she needed to be. That is the friend we need when grieving.
Or I would say, “be like Pete.” He recognized the elephant in the room. He noticed the beauty within the mess. He stepped out of his comfort zone to do the right thing. He lifted when he could, also made mistakes, and holds on to help her despite facing his greatest fear in order to do so. He comes along for the wild ride and sings on the way even if he isn’t any good at it. That is the friend we need when life is chaining us down.
I loved it.
January 11, 2023
Pete is a precise, predictable, practical little pig. Pickles is a wild force of nature wrapped in a circus elephant. This is the story of how their lives collide, intertwine, and grow.
I loved it. The art is my favorite part. The details and expressions are amazing (I think my favorite is Pickles' face when 'sledding the Matterhorn'), and the funny moments snuck into the pictures are priceless. I love how it's about recovering from a loss without the loss being the focus of the story - it could easily just be about a perfectionist, but you can read between the lines of the pictures to know poor, predictable Pete is a widower. I love how it's a diverse friendship, with a meaningful relationship even between two very different personalities (and species). I love the dandelions snuck in - besides being a happy yellow flower, it's a resilient one (the reason it's also the symbol of the military child, able to bloom anywhere).
I will admit, it has a more serious lean to it. I was really worried what the firefighters would find!! But kids that can handle I Want My Hat Back and similar slightly dark picture books, would be able to handle the intensity of the friends' danger. And it has a positive ending, so the uplifting ending makes it worth it.
I especially love the story behind it (read the author's notes at the end). These two friends grew out of a doodle by Berkeley Breathed's daughter who explained, when asked why the elephant is holding the pig in the sketch, that "The pig's sad." "Why?" "Because he's lonely, Dad...But he doesn't know it." It's such a relatable feeling, right?
Don't know if it's a storytime read for me, though. Especially with all the languages I get in my typical audience, some of the subtlety might be lost, as would the details in the pictures when read in a larger group. But as a recommended one-on-one read? Definitely.
I loved it. The art is my favorite part. The details and expressions are amazing (I think my favorite is Pickles' face when 'sledding the Matterhorn'), and the funny moments snuck into the pictures are priceless. I love how it's about recovering from a loss without the loss being the focus of the story - it could easily just be about a perfectionist, but you can read between the lines of the pictures to know poor, predictable Pete is a widower. I love how it's a diverse friendship, with a meaningful relationship even between two very different personalities (and species). I love the dandelions snuck in - besides being a happy yellow flower, it's a resilient one (the reason it's also the symbol of the military child, able to bloom anywhere).
I will admit, it has a more serious lean to it. I was really worried what the firefighters would find!! But kids that can handle I Want My Hat Back and similar slightly dark picture books, would be able to handle the intensity of the friends' danger. And it has a positive ending, so the uplifting ending makes it worth it.
I especially love the story behind it (read the author's notes at the end). These two friends grew out of a doodle by Berkeley Breathed's daughter who explained, when asked why the elephant is holding the pig in the sketch, that "The pig's sad." "Why?" "Because he's lonely, Dad...But he doesn't know it." It's such a relatable feeling, right?
Don't know if it's a storytime read for me, though. Especially with all the languages I get in my typical audience, some of the subtlety might be lost, as would the details in the pictures when read in a larger group. But as a recommended one-on-one read? Definitely.
October 14, 2019
This book was interesting to say the least. I know that I didn't pick up on all of the details in this book such as a famous painting, but I think I enjoyed this book. It is hard for me to decide on my rating because this book is so whimsical. I know that I thought this story was weird in the first few pages, but I think I have a soft spot for this one. I did not notice on my first try that one of the reasons why the main character Pete is sad is because his wife passed away.
I would like to caution parents to give this book to older, more mature children. It mentions the concepts for drowning and familial death, so if your child cannot handle those kinds of topics yet, hold on on giving this book to them.
I love how the illustrations in this book added to the story. It gives you extra details such as what the main character was thinking when you read that page. That page made me think of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh for a moment. Some of the illustrations were really colorful, and they looked like they were generated on a computer while other illustrations were in the more traditional black and white style of drawing.
I would like to caution parents to give this book to older, more mature children. It mentions the concepts for drowning and familial death, so if your child cannot handle those kinds of topics yet, hold on on giving this book to them.
I love how the illustrations in this book added to the story. It gives you extra details such as what the main character was thinking when you read that page. That page made me think of Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh for a moment. Some of the illustrations were really colorful, and they looked like they were generated on a computer while other illustrations were in the more traditional black and white style of drawing.
July 25, 2022
Pete and Pickles by Berkeley Breathed is a school age children's book. It is a magnificent, illustrated book about a pig named Pete and an elephant named Pickles. They go on adventures planned out by Pickles (Pete is a more reserved type). Having an elephant as a roommate is somewhat cramped, but in the end, Pete realizes how important Pickles is to him. The illustrations are super color saturated and almost dreamlike and just on the edge of disturbing looking. To me this has a good example of descriptive illustration. The more you look at the page, the more you notice about the characters and backdrops and the emotions of the story really come through. This story is a wonderful tail of opposites attract and true friendship, even though the bumps in the road may cause some hiccups along the way. Adults and kids will enjoy this sweet story.
October 17, 2018
I love love loved this book. The pictures are so layered and beautiful and help make the book compelling to readers of all ages. Small children will miss some of the shrewder (and sadder) references but the pictures are so well done and layered that they add depth without feeling over-done. Adults see Pete for the grieving spouse that he is and children simply see him as a pig who is a bit grumpy and not quite ready for a friendship that overtakes him.
The book was a hit with the kids at story time in spite of its length and the children connected with the story of unexpected and special friendship. We took a pause midway through to do a more active song and then the kids were good to go for the second half of the book. My laughter ensued at the poignant and unexpected ending.
The book was a hit with the kids at story time in spite of its length and the children connected with the story of unexpected and special friendship. We took a pause midway through to do a more active song and then the kids were good to go for the second half of the book. My laughter ensued at the poignant and unexpected ending.
May 25, 2017
Beautiful, sad, amazing...I just loved this story. Everyone should read this little book. The friendship tale is one we've heard before, but here, with the authors subtle take on loneliness and the dark way the story comes about, this friendship tale blossoms into something fresh and I just adored it. The artwork is gorgeous and the story is perfect and I want to recommend it to everyone and I want to re-read Opus now too and ugh. 5 stars.
May 17, 2019
While this story does deal with finding friendships in unlikely places, it really has no place in my daughters bedroom. Not only is there blatant fat shaming with Pete saying he’s going to “get rid of the big girl” but it ends with both characters dying. And contains a joke about death at the beginning of the book. There are so many other good books out there that aren’t so problematic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews