Friday, November 19th, 2004
When I was a child, I would regularly read all of the usual periodicals for kids, including Jack & Jill and Highlights. But the one thing I always looked forward to receiving in the mail came from Weekly Reader Books in a package that posed the question, “Have you visited the town of Sweet Pickles?” And of course, I had visited many times. The Sweet Pickles books were my favorite childhood series, and I would read each story until I knew it by heart.
According to the series description, “In the world of Sweet Pickles, each animal gets into a pickle because of an all too human personality trait”. The stories taught lessons about kindness, sharing, and acceptance. They also warned us about the failings of human nature, and how we often refuse to see in ourselves what is so easily recognizable in others.
All of the books had an illustrated cast of characters inside the front cover, and a town map in the back. The cast and map illustrations were one of my favorite parts of each book. There were twenty-six characters, each representing a different letter of the alphabet. My favorites included Clever Camel, Fearless Fish, Worried Walrus and Yakety Yak.
I think that Sweet Pickles especially appealed to me because I enjoyed feeling that I was part of a world that I could understand. A world that I could hold in my hands. While reading a story, I would find myself constantly turning to the town map to figure out how each tale fit into the larger world of Sweet Pickles.
At one time I probably had the complete collection of books, but only ten remain in my library today. Several of them have the beat up covers and ripped pages that are the hallmark of books that survived my early years. Someday it may be necessary to explain to my own children why someone named “Gerg” has written his name inside so many of the books. In the meantime, maybe I’ll read them again. I might learn something.
There’s really something magical about books you read as a kid. I always looked forward to my grandma bringing me a “little golden book” when she came to see me. Somehow the stories, messages, and even the illustrations are as clear to me now as something I picked up yesterday. When I pick up some of those books I get transported back to my old bedroom, my mom leaning up against the headboard next to me, reading “The Pokey Little Puppy”, or “Scat, Cat!”. I think we can learn a lot from children’s books!
I loved these sweet picles books also. i lost almost all and am trying to recollect them now as an adult for my niece and myself. it is hard to find though since they stopped making them. does any one have the whole set they would like to sell me?
When my parents got divorced my mother had to throw a lot of our stuff away because we moved out of state and our car would only hold so much. She donated all of mine & my sisters books to local libraries. Sweet Pickles was by far our favorite, and I’m searching for a complete set, good condition, to give to her for Christmas. We always see who gets the other the “Made you cry!” gift….I would like to win @ least once……
I found out about this series when I got 5 of them as hand-me-downs as a youngster. Posters at my middle school and high school reminded me of these books and I collected all 26 of them.
I love the Sweet Pickles collection!! I remember reading them as a child and now I’m 22 and I still love them. It’s been a long time and I just recently saw the book Who Stole Alligators Shoe? It brought back so many fond memories and I’m hoping to find them and buy them so that one day my children can enjoy them as well!!
I am a 23 year old college student, and loved this series growing up… I was nicknamed goose from the “Goof Off Goose” character. My mom saved my copies and I still have the entire collection, and I am thrilled to get to share them with my children one day.
This is great!! Thank you for this site. I thought my sisters and I were the only ones to enjoy Sweet Pickles as children. No one in my circle knows about the series. It now has me wondering if it was local or regional. I live in Maryland but was born and raised in chicago. I would also like to collect a set or two.
Thanks for all the comments guys. I’m surprised at how many people have found this post while looking for information about the Sweet Pickles books.
Outside of you guys, I’ve yet to find anyone else that has heard of the series. And that’s a shame, because they are timeless and wonderful.
Did you see how expensive they are on Amazon? It would cost a fortune to buy the set. However, it might be worth it for a copy of me-too iguana!
Hmm…I only see used copies on Amazon for around a dollar.
I loved Sweet Pickles growing up. My brother and I had the plastic Pickles bus growing up…and I still have mine! I wish I was able to get a complete set of the books because I know my daughter would love them.
Thanks for the comment Melissa. I didn’t know anyone who had the bus, but I always wanted one. Lucky!
I had the bus also. I’m glad I’m not the only one that remembers Sweet Pickles. Awesome books!
I have been looking for Sweet Pickles for years! None of my friends have ever heard of it and I finally had to ask my mom, “I’m not crazy, am I? I read Sweet Pickles books when I was a kid, right?” I would love to get these books and all the activities (remember those?) for my 4 year old daughter - any advice?
I absolutely loved the Sweet Pickles series and had the entire set when I was young. I recently saw some on Ebay and bid on the them. My mom had sold mine at a rummage sale years ago. She regrets doing that and now, I’m trying to collect the whole set again to share with my kids. Boy, they bring back a lot of memories. Anyone remember the little map of the town on the inside back cover of every book. I think I knew the town by heart!
I was searching the web for Sweet Pickle. There is a van in my town painted like the Sweet Pickle bus, the who owns it has never even heard of Sweet Pickle. My sister is the only person I know that knows what I’m talking about when I say Sweet Pickle.
Needless to say, seeing these other postings made me feel slightly more sane, since other people knew too:)
I had these books when I was alittle girl. I would like to know where I can buy these books for my children.
I was a huge Sweet Pickles fan when I was a kid; I remember how thrilled I was when a new one would arrive each week.
I don’t know how I knew then that books and reading would mean as much to my child as they did to me, but I saved every single one of my childhood books, and forced my parents to keep boxes and boxes in their house while I grew up and went off to college…
And now, 25 years later, I’ve got the entire Sweet Pickles series, A to Z, which have become my 6-year-old daughter’s favorite books. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me, on so many levels.
Thanks for sharing your memories, and bringing back my own!
I’m another one who came across this site looking for information on Sweet Pickles books. I loved these unforgettable books too. Only 6 survived from my early childhood and I recently found 3 at garage sale for 10 cents each and they were a lot better looking than mine! They are a big hit with my son who’s almost 5. Now he knows what I’m talking about when I use the expressions “down in the dumps” or ” a pain in the mane”, etc.
It would be nice if there were a Sweet Pickles fan site where we could trade eachother any of the books we might come across that we don’t need (for example I recently passed up a 25-cent Goof Off Goose because we already have it, but I should have bought it anyway!).
Oh and like the rest of you I never knew anyone who had read these books either. I always knew they were special.
Sweet Pickles Rock! I am taking a class on childrens literature and was assigned a project on childrens authors and publishers. The first idea for my topic was those Sweet Pickles books that I read as a child. I remember having the bus, although I don’t remember the bus ever coming to my house. Last weekend, I went to my mothers house in search of my long lost books and found only ten. My question is; where do I find more information about sweet pickles and its creators? I googled many options and used other search engines. I want to use these books as part of my project but cannot find any information. Can anyone help?
Sweet Pickles were great. I never had the full set or anything—actually I may not have had any of the books—but I do remember them at my elementary school library, doctor’s offices, etc.
I remember once being at a store with my family and finding a Sweet Pickles book of a different format from the series, and a record (didn’t go with the book, it was just a different SP record). I think the book was about Zany Zebra, and I remember the record…it was a small, extremely flimsy record (we’re talkin’ like, deli-sliced ham thin here) and it featured Fearless Fish. It even began and ended with a Sweet Pickles theme song, which was so cool to hear. Man I’d love to find a Sweet Pickles record again…
I have three Sweet Pickles books that I am willing to sell. Contact me if you are interested.
OK. I can’t resist. I am 57 years old and I too love Sweet Pickles! And of course I identify with all of you who say, “No one’s ever heard of them!” I read them to my sons when they were little guys. Now I have granddaughters! I am lacking eight of the original series and would love to add them to the ones I read the boys. Maybe someday.
I have been wanting a set of these books. I too thought I was the only one who had read them. My favorite was Zany Zebra(eat dessert first) I am now going to start searching to rebuild my set.
I think my favorite was Yakety Yak Yak Yak.
We also had the Sweet Pickle books as kids. Does anyone remember a cassette tape that came with the Special Series of Books. The cassette tape had songs on it and it may have also read each book page by page. The titles of some of the Special Series Books were, “What a Mess”, “Rainy Day Parade”, “What’s so Great about Nice”.
Also, http://www.ebay.com have full sets of the books and you can find individual books on a number of sites including http://www.alibris.com
If anyone did have the cassette tape, I would love to get a copy of it.
I recently found some at an antique store - made me feel old (: I loved Sweet Pickles books - the character, the map, the messages - and am looking forward to sharing them with my son. Too bad there is not a fan website or something specifically for Sweet Pickles books.
I am looking for a Sweet Pickles record that I had when I was a kid. All I remember is jealous jackal singing “Behind my back they call me jealous jackal, and ooooh that makes me pretty mad!” I wore that record out and I have never been able to find it anywhere or know of anyone who even remembers it except my sister. If anyone knows of one please let me know. I will pay well for it.
I also loved the Sweet Pickles series. I remember as a child watching the commercials and being disappointed that I missed the bus that dropped them off every month. I had the entire series until later when my much younger siblings destroyed them. I did find a book randomly at my parents place over Christmas and now I am trying to look for a set for my kids. I am surprised that with so many people looking for them that they wouldn’t print a few sets as new vintage limited editions.
Oh, yes and people I know have no clue about Sweet Pickles and think I am crazy.
Omigosh! Autumn, I have the same problem! I used to look out the window waiting for that stupid bus to come and it never did. I used to have the whole series as well as the I Can Read books until my parents made me get rid of them. Also, just like you, my friends have no idea what a Sweet Pickle is and they think I’m crazy. Tragedy.
Hey, gang. I’m a sixty-something Gramma who loved those Sweet Pickles books. We had the entire 26 books plus some additional ones. And now my granddaughter is enjoying those books, because her momma loved them as much as I did. AND NO THEY ARE NOT FOR SALE! No amount of money can replace the joy and delight of reading about Clever Camel, Responsible Rabbit, Enormous Elephant, Jealous Jackal, and others.We also have the 33 1/3 record with all the songs. But I want a cassette or CD of those songs. Does anyone know where I can get the CD?
Hi! I loved the sweet pickles seris. My mom would read to me everyday during naptime at home and I looked forward to it! I wouldn’t trade them for the world!
I LOVED Sweet Pickles books when I was a kid!!!
I’m so glad I found this site, it proves I’m not crazy. None of my friens from childhood could remember these books and I was starting to think I made them up in my head. Thanks for remembering them.
sweet pickles ruled!!!!what?!thier out of print!?bring them back I want them for my kids!somebody call the sweet pickle people!
I loved them so much…. my Mom was so sad that she sold them when she found out I was having a baby. Those were the best stories…. my favorite was Goof Off Goose (I always remember the messy yard and then it snowed so she didn’t have to clean it up) and Elephant Eats the Profits (Man could he eat). They so need to start printing them again!!!!! I wish they would so the crazy people on ebay would not make you pay so much dang money for full sets!!!!! Buying them individually seems like the only affordable way to do it. Amazon has some of them for $0.33 each if you don’t mind used…. I really don’t I just want the stories again….
I remember the sweet pickles bus and the commercials. I still to this day think about that and how much I wanted that bus with all the characters to pull up to my house and bring me the books. It is so weird how time flys by so fast!
I LOVE THESE BOOKS!!!
My mother gave me about 10 of them when I had my first child. She had found them at a yard sale. Gosh, I wish I could have read these as a child, but I still enjoy them as an adult reading to my four little ones. I’ve recently purchased a complete set of all 26 letters and all 14 of the special books. They’re the larger books (they came in 2 sizes 6×8 & 8×10) and I purchased them from ebay…. cost over $200 but It was well worth it. Now, we can read a ‘new’ book every night and it takes over 5 weeks to get back to the first one! If you check on ebay, you can find almost any of the books you are missing as well as complete sets.
I know how all of you feel every time i ask anyone about the sweet pickles bus they have no idea what they are. But my question to all of you is do you remember the actual green plastic lunch box style buses. they were filled with activities and flash cards and games. I remember that I loved getting a new set of flash cards or game in the mail. I know I had a few books but not that many.
Sweet Pickles was my favorite series when I was a child in the ’70’s. I had actually forgotton about them as I got older. Recently I stumbled across one at a yard sale and the memories came flooding back. Now I’m on the hunt for the whole series for my 5yr.old daughter. So far I have found 12. I’ve got several friends on the case too!! If anyone has any double copies or just some they don’t want that they would like to sell to me please contact me through this website. My daughter already adores the ones we have. When she out grows them I’ll pass them on. Thanks alot!
Sweet Pickles was my favorite series when I was a child in the ’70’s. I had actually forgotton about them as I got older. Recently I stumbled across one at a yard sale and the memories came flooding back. Now I’m on the hunt for the whole series for my 5yr.old daughter. So far I have found 12. I’ve got several friends on the case too!! If anyone has any double copies or just some they don’t want that they would like to sell to me please contact me through this website. My daughter already adores the ones we have. After we read each one she insists that we find where each character lives on the town map on the inside flap. I love that someting I loved as a child can captavate my daughter some 25+ years later. When she grows up I hope she’ll pass them on to my grandchildren. Oh yeah– how is it that so many people don’t know about Sweet Pickles?
I am so glad I have found someone else who loved Sweet Pickles. I absolutely adored these books. We didn’t have much money or things growing up, but my mom always made sure we had books as kids. I ADORED my Sweet Pickles books. I don’t know what happened with mine. The only one around is Goose Goofs Off, which has a chewed corner, from my little sister. She thought it would taste like a sweet pickle. Looking at the book, and that corner brings back warm memories. Speaking of warm…remember Warm Fuzzies and Cold Pricklies?
I’ve been trying to collect this series, after hearing about them from my husbands daughter -in-law, she had them growing up. you just have to watch sites and bid, found some at yard sales, & thift shops. GOOD LUCK ON FINDING YOURS, and yes they are expensive on ebay, but have gotten nice one for 99 cents. Linda
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