PPBF: Lauren McGill’s Pickle Museum

Author: Jerdine Nolen
Illustrator: Debbie Tilley
Publisher: Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2003
Age: 5-8
Themes: pickles, school field trips, identity
Opening: Lauren McGill was like any other girl her age who had a favorite something.

Summary: (from my library catalog) A class field trip to the local pickle factory puts Lauren McGill’s love of pickles to the test, until she realizes her true calling is to create a museum dedicated to pickles.

I like this book because: …nope! I don’t love pickles. Beyond her own mother’s feelings, I despise them! But this main character shows such unabashed passion one cannot but admire her capacity. And when “an untimely pickle experiment” goes wrong and the consequences ultimately challenge her identity, her creativity and generosity ferments – pun intended!!

Resources/activities: make pickles – recipe for easy refrigerator-pickles HERE; check out how they are made in a small factory, below.

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog  HERE. 

PPBF: Field Trip to the Moon

Author/Illustrator: John Hare
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books, Holiday House, 2019
Age: 3-7
Themes: school field trips, moon, stories without words

Summary: (from my library catalog) in this wordless picture book, a girl is accidentally left behind on a class trip to the moon.

I like this book because: the landscape Hare created is deceptive – it looks simple, but we are drawn back to each page, practically before turning, to look for what our quick brains have missed, and there is so much to be discovered! Enjoy!

Resources/activities: how would you invite someone to join you in an activity whose language you could not understand? Try it, as a game. think of an activity and try acting it out without words to see if your partner gets it – like charades, but no clues!

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog  HERE.