Pete & Pickles

I love this story so much. This book was a gift to me when my daughter was born 15 years ago. Maybe it was the fatigue or maybe it was how beautiful, sad, and hopeful the story is, but it made me cry the first time I read it to her. Ever since then I have given this book as a gift to every one of my friends, family and employees when they are having a baby. I have probably given this book as a gift 40 times in the past 15 years. I have a stack in my office waiting for new tired parents.

Such an endearing book! It’s been my daughter’s favorite and she’s 13 now. Such a beautiful story on friendship and loving those who are different than you.

The only thing I don't like about Berkeley Breathed is that he doesn't produce more instant classics like this. He is the Dr. Seuss of the 21st century. He is so good that I find it frustrating that there are not more of his books to buy."Pete and Pickles" is another combination of brilliant art and meaningful story telling. Most children's books are read once and chucked. "Pete and Pickles", however, is one I revisit often to read to my kids. If they would let me, I would probably be reading it to them while they are in high school.If you haven't hopped on the Berkeley Breathed wagon yet, check out "Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big," "The Last Basselope: One Ferocious Story", "Goodnight Opus", "Flawed Dogs", and "Mars Needs Moms". All are so creative, thoughtful, and charming that your children will love and learn from them over and over.--Guy P. Harrison, author ofRace and Reality: What Everyone Should Know About Our Biological Diversityand50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

This is such a sweet story! It’s silly and fun for the kids yet makes me cry just about every time I read it. It’s definitely more suited for older kids as it’s a little longer and has harder concepts for really little kids to fully grasp and stay interested in. I’d almost recommend it more to gift to a significant other! Berkeley Breathed is such a wonderful author and this story does not disappoint.

I bought this book years ago for my own child. He loved it so much, I bought it as a shower gift. Touching story with beautiful illustrations.

As a fan of Breathed's work since the beginning of the Bloom County comic strip, I found humor, comfort, joy, and hope in his writing and illustration. Breathed's humor is founded in the best of our natures, not the worst of it, and you find ample evidence for it in the many cartoon universes he created to reflect it. "Pete and Pickles" is another such world. I am not sure how Berkeley Breathed manages such complex ideas with such grace and simplicity, but I am glad he does. Buy this book for you, and then share it with your favorite child. You will not regret buying this well-written, expertly crafted and illustrated, book. I read a copy yesterday, and it is in my shopping cart now. I pause only to write this review. Buy this book.

I have no children, however I collect children's books. Mr. Breathed has an astounding series of books. Though the concept in this book is a bit "Darker" than others the thing I admire about his writing is the ability for an adult to understand its meaning as well as a child. He is clever to leave out concepts that as an adult you can pick up but a child could miss. His books, can, have two meanings and two separate stories. To a child this is a funny story of an escaped elephant and an uptight pig, but to an adult it represents what many humans go through after loosing someone you care about. It would make a great gift, table book and addition to any book collection. He has a knack for bringing tears to the eyes of an adult through the laughter and understanding of a child.

I bought a used copy and might not want to pay full retail, but I loved the pictures, the playfulness, the imagination. Most of the story is in the artwork and not the words. This isn't a kids book, although I think most kids would love looking at the pictures to find all the subtle extras. I looked, or read, or both, the story about 4 times and got more out of it each time. If I paid full price, I might be disappointed, but I really like this book.