A speedy squirrel and a sleepy sloth try to get the job done in this funny, heartwarming tale of two lovable, but unlikely, friends.
Though Sloth and Squirrel are good friends, they have different ways of doing things ― and different speeds of doing them. So, when Squirrel gets them jobs as pickle packers to earn money for a new bike, things don’t go according to plan. It seems that the contrasting skill sets of a fast-as-lightening squirrel and a slow-as-molasses sloth can make for a mess of an outcome, and before long, the friends are shown the pickle factory’s door, along with the 677 1/2 jars of pickles they packed incorrectly! Now the pair are bicycle-less, with only pickles to show for themselves. Or so they think ― until the resourceful pair come up with an ingenious plan!
This delightful story from Cathy Ballou Mealey is a celebration of friendships of all kinds and a testament to ingenuity and hard work. Packed with funny details that aren’t in the text, Kelly Collier’s engaging illustrations are full of personality and silly, emotionally expressive humor. Together they create a hilarious picture book that’s perfect for a fun and lively read-aloud. At the same time, the positive themes in the book highlight a growth mindset and character education lessons on teamwork, perseverance and initiative.
Sloth and squirrel make an unlikely duo. Their story show persistence, creativity, and loyalty. When sloth and squirrel decide to try to make money to buy their own bicycle, Manager Peacock gives them a job packing pickles. Things get a little out of hand until the two decide to focus on their strengths. They package a whole lot more jars, but sloth's sleepy habits cause all of the labels to be applied upside down. What will the two friends do next? Read the book and find out. Love the adorable details like Manager Peacock's pickle-themed office and the little turtle who offers to race sloth and squirrel down the hill on their bike. A new picture book that will be a popular read aloud.
Thank you to Kids Can Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think you have to like pickles to like this picture book, but I think it helps, for there are a LOT of pickles in this book.
Sloth and Squirrel, two friends, see a bear and a rabbit riding a tandem bicycle, and Squirrel desperately wants to do the same with Sloth. They soon discover that bikes don't come cheap, so they go looking for a job. Turns out the local pickle factory needs a couple of pickle packers. Sloth and Squirrel take the jobs and things don't exactly go to plan.
It's a lovely little story, thinly about responsibility and inventiveness, about making the best with what you've got, but it's mostly just a funny story, with a certain dry wit that might appeal more to the parents. The illustrations are just as funny and sweet.
Not sure I'd pick Squirrel and Sloth as my pickle pickers, but I would pick this book.
This is the story of an unlikely friendship between a very speedy squirrel and a very slow sloth who, despite their differences, work together and achieve their end goals.
This story has multiple messages. Besides the one mentioned above, about working with each other, I believe it also teaches us about how to be responsible, to stick by our friends and work with what we have even when all seems lost and to me, these are all messages we can draw valuable morals from.
The text and design are very witty and funny and, besides the messages behind the story, I liked how heartwarming it was, and I believe small kids will like it too.
I received a free e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sloth and Squirrel are in a bit of a pickle. 677.5 jars of pickles, to be exact.
They decide to work as pickle packers to earn the money to buy the bike they want but things don’t quite go to plan. Teamwork can be a bit tricky when one member of your team is super speedy and the other is s-l-o-w.
This is a cute picture book with two very different friends. This story shows our new friends working together towards a common goal, using initiative and thinking outside the box to solve a problem.
The illustrations highlight how fast Squirrel is, how slow Sloth is and how expressive both friends are.
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Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the opportunity to read this book.
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle is such a funny story about an unlikely friendship between a sloth and a squirrel which made me laugh out loud all the way through the story. The author has done a fantastic job with the humour in this book and I loved how she turned a negative into a positive situation in the story. Squirrel wants a bike and signs him and Sloth up for jobs at a pickle packing place. Squirrel is super fast but sloth (in typical sloth style) is slow, sluggish and sleepy and their pickle packing doesn't exactly go to plan!
Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle is an adorable picture book all about teamwork!
For one, the idea behind this book in general is hilarious and makes it a must read. A sloth and a squirrel being buddies and working towards buying a bike. That's amusing! Add in the fun and engaging illustrations to this story (with an easy to follow and funny plot) and you've got a real winner for a fictitious picture book. Stories like these were what I needed back when I was a little munchkin and we barely had any books in my Kindergarten class.
These animals find a pickle packing job (seriously, funniest thing I've heard all week) and decide to work towards buying a bike! Also, the pickleology sign - I need one now.
Anywho, this book is comedic and fantastic! I highly recommend this picture book for how much fun it is.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
This book reads like watching a short animation movie. Yes, the art sequence and the adventurous story are just too vibrant!
I love the concept of being positive when things go wrong and when we accept ourselves as who we are.
What we do wrong may seem like our failures to others but if we encourage each other and try to find out ways and means to make things work, who knows our lives would change that instant.
The story taught me a really good concept. Instead of mourning for what others see us as failures all the time, why not start doing something about it?
A really good, positive storybook! Thank you authors and the publisher for the advance reading copy.
A fun little read for fun little audiences. A variant on the slow-is-steady-wins-the-race fable, it has a hyperactive squirrel and his best friend, a sloppy, lazy sloth, working in the same pickle production plant to earn money for a tandem bicycle to use together. It's easy on the eye, it's easy to read, it's humorous, and while I wouldn't deem it a classic of its sort it is a good entertainment. It might also inspire a whole home learning lesson about alliteration, for that and repetition are a constant throughout the text.
I love Sloth and Squirrel. They remind me of the old I Love Lucy show. Squirrel sees a bike he has to have and comes up with an ideal that he and Sloth can earn money by working in a pickle factory. Imagine I Love Lucy working in the candy factory and that is what happens. They get fired but that doesn't stop them.
A very funny laugh out loud book. Your kids will love this and will become one that is read many times. And because of that it is one that you won't tire of! Love it!
A Special Thank you to Kids Can Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
There are not many picture books that actually make me laugh out loud but this one totally DID! Squirrel is speedy and his friend Sloth is...not, but that doesn't stop them from working together toward a common goal - saving up money for a tandem bike. Their work packing pickles into jars doesn't quite get them there, though, until Sloth has a bright idea. I loved the humor in both the text and illustrations and the message that everyone brings something to the team, and that sometimes a mistake can lead you to an even better solution. I hope we see more Sloth and Squirrel adventures soon!
Fun to read to my crew, this story demonstrated that opposites do attract, and contrasts in characters are as interesting as visual contrasts are in art. . . .slower than slow Sloth, and squirrelly Squirrel were a perfect pair.
My guys loved it when their big venture failed dismally, and they turned it around - Sloth by having the Big Idea, and Squirrel jumping in with both feet and that big 'ol tail.
We all had to do it. In our various locations, we found a way to skewer pickles onto sticks and enjoy the rest of our books.
I received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange of an honest review.
This cover just said READ ME! And so I had to get this book on Netgalley, I just cannot resist a cover like that. 😛
This book is about two best, but maybe unlikely, friends. A hyper squirrel and a very slow but (as said by squirrel) reliable sloth. These two are just lounging around when they see someone on a bicycle (which had me and my husband in stitches as the bunny never could reach the pedals). They want a bike and find a job. I knew from then how things would end, though in the end it was still a surprise! I love love it when authors add a twist to something.
But thankfully our friends aren’t giving up on their goal which had me smiling, go boys! I loved their plan and I was rooting for them!
And then came the ending and I was just laughing so hard. I showed it to my hubby who laughed and nodded that this fitted very well. I won’t spoil anything, but Wheeeeeee! 😉
The art was really fun, I loved how well you could see the personalities shine through the characters. The illustrator really captured the hyperness of the squirrel and the slow-slow-slow personalities of the characters.
All in all, I am so happy I had the chance to read this one and I would recommend it. Such a fun book!
This is the cutest book! It shows that however you are, you can help your friends in any way. Sloth and squirrel are best friends. When they see two other animal friends riding a bike together, they want to as well!! They find a job helping with pickles and craziness ensues!! This would be a cute book to read to a younger class to show friendship.
Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the digital advance reading copy of Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle.
This was such a cute book. I absolutely love Sloths they are amazing, and squirrels are okay. ;) I love that when life gave them pickles they made the pickles the solution to their bicycle problem.
A delightfully funny story about friendship, kindness, and most of all trust. I loved how Sloth and Squirrel, despite their very different personalities, show what it means to believe in your partner, even when things go hilariously wrong. A sweet reminder that teamwork and loyalty matter more than getting everything right.
A cute book about teamwork, working toward your dreams, and finding unique solutions when you find yourself...in a pickle. A different take on the tortoise and the hair story, with a modern industrial twist. The illustrations are beautiful. This is a very cute story with a fun little ending.
Differences can make good friends. A speedy squirrel is best friends with a slow sloth. When they see two friends ride by on a bicycle built for two, squirrel decides that is what they need, but they will have to make money. They get a job at a pickle place, bottling and labeling jars of pickles. Well, that doesn't go well and they have some problems. They don't make a lot of money, but get paid in a different way. Using their brains, they turn what could have been a bad situation into their new bike. Such a fun story about friendship and problem solving. The illustrations by Kelly Collier were wonderful. They were large, active and so funny. My granddaughter and I loved this book. She laughed and laughed, especially at Sloth's activities. This is definitely a keeper.
I am biased, because I love sloths, but this was a fun book with clear and interactive illustrations. Squirrel and Sloth want to whizz by on bikes like the other animals who pass them by.
Only problem?
They don't have enough money for a bike. Their solution? Get a job and that is when the fun begins. I appreciate that squirrel and sloth never get angry with each other, they find ways to work together to solve their problems. And the ending isn't wrapped up neat as a bow, but rather both friends find a way to find happiness with what they have.
This would make a good storytime book and I'm not just saying that because I love sloths.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for an ARC of this title. I was not paid for my review, all opinions are my own.
I honestly don't think it's possible for me to love this book anymore. I really wasn't sure going in if I would love it because it's kind of got a strange name in the sense that it leaves you not really knowing what to expect. You just never know with kids books these days. I think this book is the cream of the crop. And it's not just because I absolutely love sloths. The contrast between a fast and jittery squirrel and incredibly slow sloth is very amusing And really creative. It's a great story on working together and putting out effort for what you want in life but in a sweet and silly sort of way. I imagine it would make the kiddos giggle and it has a very happy ending. The art is so cute and just perfect for the story. I really don't think this book could have come together any better. Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to review this wonderful book for free.
Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle by Cathy Ballou Mealey was charming and whimsical with an important message of resiliency. Sloth and Squirrel have a big goal, but they need a job. The job they find results in much hilarious instances and ultimately in the loss of the job.
But, the two friends turn this tragedy into a positive situation.The illustrations are done in exquisite detail and my almost four year old loved looking at the expressions of the animal friends as they tried, failed, tried again, and ultimately found joy.
Young kids will enjoy the story and laugh repeatedly while learning the importance of never giving up.
I was provided a free advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review from Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.
Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle by Cathy Ballou Mealey and Kelly Collier is a cute, silly little story about a squirrel and a sloth who take jobs doing pickle packing in order to raise money for a bicycle to share. These jobs work out about as well as you'd expect them to, but with an ingenious twist at the end. The art is fun and bright, and the two main characters accept each other for who they are, and work around their differences. Also, there's a sloth and a grumpy peacock boss and lots of pickles. This is a fun book to share with kids.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Kids Can Press for sharing a temporary digital #advancedcopy of Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle in exchange for an honest review.
Super-slow sloth and super-flighty squirrel need to earn money to buy a bike. Reluctantly, the owner of the pickle-packing store gives them a job. Pickle-packing turns out to be harder than it looks and they get fired. As they are drowning their sorrows in popsicles, Sloth accidentally invents a new snack that brings them the funds they need for a bike.
Cute story about working to reach your goals, failing, and finding a way to try again. I loved the illustrations, and the characters. This will be a great addition to an elementary library collection, and I would recommend to readers who are ready to move up a step from Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggie and books.
Sloth and Squirrel get the bright idea to purchase a bicycle, but they need funds. In this delightful picture book, Sloth and Squirrel, set out to find a job at a local pickle packing factory. As imagined, things don't go as planned and they find themselves "in a pickle."
As an educator, I would recommend this book as a read aloud and/or an addition to your classroom library. The students will love the illustrations and adventures of Sloth and Squirrel. This book could be used to teach idioms and their meanings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was so freaking cute! Now anyone who knows me knows that I love pickles and small furry creatures, so I could have guessed I'd like this story. The illustrations were great and really captured the emotions and vibes of the characters. I loved the optimism and their little business. This was a super fun read and I highly recommend it. I'd love to see more stories with Sloth and Squirrel.
I just had sliced pickles with dinner tonight and after reading this book, darned if I don't want more!
This is a fantastically charming book about goals and friendships, and set-backs and ingenuity. I absolutely love how Squirrel had as definitive voice in my head as Sloth did. And the illustrations were BRILLIANT and hilarious and so full of wonderful life all on their own!
Such a fun and adorable read for all the ages who like words.
This playful odd-couple story hits all the right notes. I love the way these two friends, slow-but-thoughtful Sloth and super-speedy Squirrel, play off each other. When the friends take a job packing pickles in order to earn money for a tandem bike, things go awry in a hilarious and unpredictable manner. They soon lose their jobs but gain a lot of pickles, leading Sloth to come up with an intriguing cash-earning invention! I love Mealey's fun wordplay and Collier's charming illustrations. This hilarious and sweet story is sure to charm both kids and adults. Highly recommended!
Nominated for the 2023 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, I started reading this to my students. Such a fun book! I was surprised to find out that some of my students do not know what a sloth is. We will need to rectify that with some Wild Kratts. I pause at the moment when Mr. Peacock fires them and ask the students if they can see what the problem is - the labels. With the older students we pause to do the math and get an idea of how much money they could make with their pickle pops. Such a fun read!
In this fun adventure with 2 friends, Sloth and Squirrel are stuck with a problem that they find a solution for that problem. I loved how these 2 friends are able to or at least make great attempts to solving the problems they come across.
* I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.