New Poetry Book - Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie

1. Bibliographic Citation
Sternberg, Julie. 2011. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. New York: Abrams. ISBN 9780810984240

 2. Summary and Review
 Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie is about an 8 year-old named Eleanor who learns her beloved babysitter, Bibi, has to move away. At first, Eleanor is devastated, but gradually begins to feel better about her new babysitter, Natalie, who is caring and understanding of Eleanor’s feelings. Throughout the book, Eleanor awaits a letter from Bibi in response to a letter she sent just after Bibi left. Eleanor and Natalie slowly form a bond and Eleanor realizes that although Natalie will never take Bibi’s place, she will make “an excellent second babysitter.” And if missing Bibi wasn’t enough, Eleanor also deals with the fact that her best friend is out of town for the whole summer and has doubts about beginning the school year in 3rd grade. Written in free verse chapters, this book is an excellent choice for children who are beginning to read novels. The short lines aren’t overwhelming, the text is large, and Matthew Cordell’s cartoon-like drawings complement the poems nicely. The opening poem captures Eleanor’s mood at the beginning of the book:

Chapter One

I had a bad August.
A very bad August.
As bad as pickle juice on a cookie.
As bad as a spiderweb on your leg.
As bad as the black parts of a banana.
I hope your August was better.
I really do.

3. Awards/Reviews
 *Cybil Award Finalist, 2011
*Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee, 2012-2013
*Positive reviews in Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Library Media Connection

4. Activities
 *When Eleanor begins 3rd grade, her teacher, Mr. Campanelli, asks the class to write a poem beginning with the words “Love Is.” Eleanor writes that “love is” activities she has done with Bibi and with Natalie. “Love is calling me Ellie./Love is ice on my arm./Love is three green barrettes./Love is lemonade.” Students could imitate Eleanor’s style and write what love is to them in four simple lines.
*The fact that Eleanor chooses to write a letter through “snail mail” rather than email is interesting. She remembers from school how to properly write a friendly letter. This could spark a lesson on writing friendly letters.

5. Related Books
*Love That Dog by Sharon Creech ISBN 9780756913809
*This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman ISBN 9780618616800
* Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan ISBN 9780060279714