Favorite Fictional Character --- Sweet Pickles

 

 I’m in a pickle. I’ve been wanting to highlight one of the denizens of Sweet Pickles for years now, but I could never decide which one to single out. As a kid, I loved all of them, even Nasty Nightingale. Trying to choose between Clever Camel or Yakety Yak gave me such a headache that I kept putting it off. And now, sixteen years after starting this feature, I’m still stuck.

Because my indecisiveness could give Questioning Quail a run for her money, I’ve decided to just pick all twenty-six of the anthropomorphic animals who live and play in the charming little town of Sweet Pickles.

Yes, I’m absolutely aging myself with this pick—and that’s fine, because these characters deserve it. If you’re not familiar, Sweet Pickles was a series of thirty picture books that used twenty-six animals, from A to Z, to help an entire generation of Gen X kids make sense of our personalities and emotions.

When I was little, I was especially drawn to Bashful Bear and Doubtful Dog. I’ll let you guess why, though I doubt you’d be wrong. I saw myself in them and felt everything they went through. What made these books special, beyond the irresistible idea of a town full of talking animals, was the gentle way they taught us to be self-aware. Each story showed how our quirks and flaws could get in our way, like when Bashful Bear was too shy to ask someone to be his friend. There were lessons about problem-solving, sure, but mostly they helped us see ourselves a little more clearly.

Before I wrap this up, I have to mention Loving Lion and Moody Moose, because I adored them too. And then there’s Unique Unicorn, Healthy Hippo, Fearless Fish… See my problem? I can’t choose just one.

So instead, consider this a quasi–love letter to all the residents of Sweet Pickles; the sweet, silly, and surprisingly insightful crew who helped shape an entire generation of kids.

Now if only I could find a complete set that doesn’t cost nearly $200. Wish me luck.