A NEW CAR FOR PICKLE

A detour on a road trip becomes an exercise in moderating vehicular expectations.

Accompanied by best friend Bird, Pickle, an aptly named anthropomorphic green dog, is going to Clover Farm for some strawberries and cream. The car sputters, shakes, and spews exhaust before stopping, so they push it to Coco’s Garage to try out replacement cars. What follows is a selection process that would make Goldilocks proud: Each of Pickle’s choices is too fast, too large, or too expensive. All three picks get noticed by pedestrians, whether due to Pickle’s speeding, the difficulty of maneuvering a bulky vehicle, or the flashy design of the last vehicle. Each experience leaves Pickle aware of what really matters in a car: “What I want is a simple, little, safe car.” Coco’s able to provide just that through a tune-up of Pickle’s original car. Readers may evaluate the vehicles that they see in the real world in a new light after witnessing Pickle’s decision-making process. A warning from a stern police bird demonstrates one consequence of ignoring the speed limit. Pickle is a conscientious protagonist who apologizes for mistakes and shares the ever-desirable strawberries and cream. The setting is filled with appealingly round shapes and subdued colors, save for a pointy roof or the newly washed finish on one of the cars. The tale offers an excellent lesson in self-awareness, pragmatism, and manners.

A clever take on the trials and tribulations of replacing a busted ride.