Synopses & Reviews
I had a bad August.
A very bad August.
As bad as pickle juice on a cookie.
As bad as a spider web on your leg.
As bad as the black parts on a banana.
I hope your August was better.
I really do.
and#160;When Eleanor's beloved babysitter, Bibi, has to move away to take care of her ailing father, Eleanor must try to bear the summer without Bibi and prepare for the upcoming school year. Her new, less-than-perfect babysitter just isn't up to snuff, and she doesn't take care of things like Bibi used to. But as the school year looms, it's time for new beginnings. Eleanor soon realizes that she will always have Bibi, no matter how far away she is.and#160;
Written in a lyrical style with thoughtful and charming illustrations throughout, this remarkable debut novel tells a poignant story of friendship and the bittersweet feelings of growing up.
Praise for Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie
and#8220;Eleanorand#8217;s ingenuous free-verse monologue should strike a chord with readers, especially those who may have had to cope with the loss of a loved one. Cordelland#8217;s halftone cartoons convey the storyand#8217;s pathos and humor, as well as Eleanorand#8217;s changeable moods.and#8221; and#8211;Publishers Weeklyand#160;
and#8220;Cordelland#8217;s winsome cartoon drawings complement the text without overcrowding the verse. It tells a simple, poignant story that will resonate with any child who has ever had to say good-bye.and#8221; and#8211;Booklistand#160;
and#8220;This first novel is a promising debut. Eleanorand#8217;s concerns, not only about her babysitter, but also about playmates, friends and a new school year will be familiar to readers, who will look forward to hearing more about her life.and#8221; and#8211;Kirkus Reviews
and#8220;Sternberg hits all the right notes here, capturing a sensitive kidand#8217;s first experience of loss with tender respectfulness and full acknowledgment that separation is a bereavement too. Sprightly line drawings, with the same perky homeyness as the story, add visual energy.and#8221; and#8211;Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#8217;s Booksand#160;
and#8220;Heartfelt, accessible, and energeticand#8230;and#8221; and#8211;Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#8217;s Booksand#160;
"This heartwarming novel and its winsome cartoon-like illustrations draw readers right into the story. Children would enjoy this short chapter book as an independent read, but it would also be a particularly good choice for parents to read to or with their children." and#8211;BookPage
Synopsis
I hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didnand#8217;t. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first sheand#8217;s excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just canand#8217;t seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops.
Praise for Like Bug Juice on a Burger
"Eleanor doesnand#8217;t just survive, she growsand#133;Readers will celebrate and look forward to more."
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
"Sternberg gets all of the details exactly right, from the and#147;orange, oozing sloppy joesand#8221; to the frustrations of trying to swim in a life jacket. susan dove lempke."
and#151;The HornBook
"This is a really sweet novel in verse and a good sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Abrams, 2011), though it works fine as a stand-alone."
and#151;School Library Journal
"Eleanorand#8217;s tentative yet heartfelt voice comes through as clearly as in the first volume, with the short, ragged-right-margin lines as approachable as her personality. Sternberg is particularly deft at leaving young-reader-sized room for interpretation and extrapolation."
and#151;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This sequel to Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (2011) is just as endearing and wise, illustrating how small triumphs can help children survive what, at the time, seems an insurmountable trial."
and#151;Booklist
Award
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbons List 2013
Honor list - 2014 Gryphon Award
About the Author
Julie Sternberg received her MFA in writing for children from the New School. She is the author of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. She lives in Brooklyn. Matthew Cordell is the illustrator of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Bat and Rat, and Trouble Gum. He lives outside of Chicago.