Pete and Pickles by Berkeley Breathed

Pete and Pickles by Berkeley Breathed

Rating: 4.5 stars

I think this is the most touching children's book I've ever read.  I mean, I had tears in my eyes at the end.  While I do love it personally, it was almost too serious for Lorelei.  I am hoping that someone who has read the book is also reading this, and has a moment to share their opinion.  Was it too serious for the kid in your life? 

Here's the gist of the story: Pete was a "perfectly predictable pig," whose life was quiet and dull, and revolved around missing his late wife, Paprika (she's never mentioned in the text; we see Pete vacuuming her grave and looking wistfully at old pictures of her).  He was lonely, but didn't know it.  Until one night, as he was having a nightmare that he was drowning (that's the only thing pigs do well in water).  An elephant tries to escape her dull life in the circus, but Pete sends the elephant away with the clown who comes looking for her.  After the elephant leaves dandelions and a smile, Pete is curious and ends up helping her escape.

Their life together is anything but quiet and dull.  Pete is no longer predictable, and Pickles easily wiggles her big self into Pete's heart by taking him high-diving, sliding down a hill of leaves, and rowing in an elephant gondola.  Pickles also plants dandelions on Paprika's grave.  But Pickles goes too far when she tries on Paprika's clothes and has the chimney painted with blue skies and clouds, and Pete yells at her: "It's time you probably left!"

This yell causes Pickles to fall into the tub, which she breaks with her heft, which bursts a pipe that quickly floods the whole house.  Pete is frantic--remember what pigs do best in water?--and the two animals climb to the highest part of the house, but only Pete can reach the highest window by standing tall on Pickles' extended trunk.  Poor Pickles is left underwater, but still smiles at Pete.

So then there's a page of darkness, when Lorelei and I were left wondering what happened, hoping someone saved them, or they found a way to save each other.  "When the fireman finally climbed to the window the next morning, he could not believe what he found."


Breathed's daughter's original illustration, and his own.



Pete takes a gulp of air and swims to Pickles to give her air, snout to trunk.  Again and again.  "All night.  Every hour.  Every minute.  Every breath shared."  The two collapse, entwined and exhausted, with the firemen scratching their heads above them.  And when they finally awoke?  They had the first of many new adventures together.

 SUCH a touching story of friendship!  I am in awe of Berkeley Breathed, his imagination, his amazing artwork, and the gift he's given readers through this book.  In the back flap of the book is another great story.  Breathed explains that some years ago, his daughter drew a picture of an elephant holding a small pig in a "nose hug and putting flowers on his head" at a restaurant.  Why?  He asked her.  "Because he's lonely, Dad."  Then she leaned in and whispered  "...But he doesn't know it." 

As if the story could get better, but it does!  Breathed fleshed out her sketch later that day and finished the story two years later.  Even with the serious tone--and that won't flaw it for all readers--this is a remarkable book.