Sylvie Wickstrom

Pickle, a green dog, and his friend Bird are off to get strawberries and cream from Clover Farm when Pickle's car just stops working. Conveniently, they are close enough to push the car over to Coco's Garage, where Pickle and Bird test-drive a variety of cars, but none seem just right. Whatever will Pickle do?

This was a super cute book, done in the panels style of comic books, although the Goldilocks-inspired story, anthropomorphic animals, and gentle-colors-palette illustrations are more show more reminiscent of a picture book or standard early reader. I love how the main message of the story -- which is done without being overly didactic at all -- is about caring for what you already own and not rushing out to buy something new and flashy. In these days of rampant over-consumerism, this was a refreshing change of pace. There's also a secondary message about friendship and kindness, again without it being too ham-fisted. show less

There's nothing really wrong with this book, but as I flipped through its 340 pages (!) of gentle and heartfelt family anecdotes, I just did not find any hook to convince me that it was particularly original or worthwhile. The nuggets that might have been worth refining are washed away in a river of the ordinary.

It was mildly interesting as an American reader to see a French childhood play out in this memoir. But the mundanity and relative normality of Sylvie’s story, coupled with the perfunctory drawing style and storytelling, left no more than an ephemeral impression on me. Whatever tension there might have been during her early childhood and school years (such as Sylvie’s parents’ personality differences sparking constant family conflict, shame of her Jewish identity, or her fretting over show more her career path) was glossed over without much intimate exploration. Nor did she highlight any eccentricities of her own personality that might have provided the story more punch or humor. show less

First sentence: There were four things Monti Mole loved to do in the morning. One, he welcomed the day. Two, he stopped by the Pocketville Bakery. Three, he visited the Pocketville Library. And four, before heading home for lunch, Monti settled on his favorite rock by the river and gazed peacefully at the water. It was a perfect routine! Until one day...

Premise/plot: Monti Mole's perfect life--perfect routine--is disrupted when Leo Lizard moves to town. But can change actually be a great show more thing? Is his life actually improved by Leo's arrival? Could Leo be the BEST BEST BEST friend Monti never knew he needed? Not everyone in town is thrilled with the newcomer. Some people are giving him the cold shoulder (if you will), can Monti help the others in town welcome Leo?

This is an early chapter book, the first in a new series. It is told partly in graphic novel form. In other words, highly illustrated chapter book where the narrative is mostly (though not exclusively) told in dialogue--speech bubbles. The panels are well spaced and not confusing. I enjoyed this one very much. I would definitely be interested in reading more in the series. The book celebrates friendship--going above and beyond for a friend. show less