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
Review
"Just the thing for readers with a burgeoning interest in poetryand#8212;or angling."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"A playful verse narrative of the joys and perils of a family fishing trip. . . . This tender, well-crafted sibling story should hook many readers."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Engaging verse that's just the right depth and length for chapter-book readers. . . A solid, entertaining story to hook children on poetry."
and#8212;Booklist
"All of Sam's episodes take the form of poems, each discreetly labeled by its poetic form, which is then defined at the end of the book. . . most will enjoy the notion that there are as many ways to tell a tale as to catch a fish."
and#8212;Bulletin
"This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. . . . Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story"
and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
Synopsis
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.
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.
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
"Eleanor'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. Cordell's halftone cartoons convey the story's pathos and humor, as well as Eleanor's changeable moods." -Publishers Weekly
"Cordell'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." -Booklist
"This first novel is a promising debut. Eleanor'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." -Kirkus Reviews
"Sternberg hits all the right notes here, capturing a sensitive kid'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." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Heartfelt, accessible, and energetic..." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"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." -BookPage
Synopsis
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie is the first young readers novel in Julie Sternberg's Eleanor series, featuring illustrations by Matthew Cordell.
I had a bad August. A very bad August. As bad as pickle juice on a cookie.
Eleanor's beloved babysitter, Bibi, is moving away. Suddenly, the things she used to enjoy aren't fun anymore--everything reminds her of Bibi. To make matters worse, Eleanor has a new babysitter, who just isn't the same.
But as the new school year looms ahead, so do new beginnings. And Eleanor is about to learn some special things about herself, friendship, and the bittersweet process of growing up.
Eleanor series:
Like Bug Juice on a Burger (#1)
Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake (#2)
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (#3)
Synopsis
When nine-year-old Eleanor's beloved babysitter Bibi moves away to care for her ailing father, Eleanor must spend the summer adjusting to a new babysitter while mourning the loss of her old one.
Synopsis
Join nine-year-oldand#160;Catfish Sam as he captures a day of adventure in his netand#8212;and in verse and#8212; in this unique middle grade novel told through poems and comic illustrations.
Synopsis
Nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad. So when his pesky little sister, Lucy, horns in on their fishing trip, heand#8217;s none too pleased: and#8220;Whereand#8217;s my stringer? / Somethingand#8217;s wrong! / The princess doll does not belong!and#8221; All ends well in this winsome book of poemsand#8212;each labeled with its proper poetic form, from quatrain to tercet. Together the poems build a dawn-to-dusk story of a father-son bond, of sibling harmony lost and foundand#8212;and most of all, of delicious anticipation. Charming line drawings animate the poetry with humor and drama, and the extensive Poetand#8217;s Tackle Box at the end makes this the perfect primer to hook aspiring poets of all ages.
Synopsis
I did a mean thing. A very mean thing.
I HATEand#160;that I did it.
But I did.
This is worse than
carrot juice on a cupcake
or a wasp on my pillow
or a dress thatandrsquo;s too tight at the neck.
In the third installment from the team who created Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and Like Bug Juice on a Burger, Eleanorandrsquo;s relationship with her best friend, Pearl, experiences its first growing pains. When a glamorous new student transfers to school, at first Eleanorandrsquo;s excited about the possibility of a new friend. But when Pearl is assigned to be the new girlandrsquo;s buddy, Eleanor fears she canandrsquo;t compete. To make matters worse, Eleanorandrsquo;s been chosen for the lead role in the springtime musical, which means she has to sing a solo in front of the entire school!
From overcoming stage fright to having a secret crush, young readers will relate to Eleanor as she navigates the bittersweet waters of growing up.
Praise for Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;Sternberg again displays her talent at putting Eleanor on the horns of a common youthful dilemma in accessible prose.andquot;
--Bulletin of the Center for Childrenandrsquo;s Books, starred review
andquot;This is another very true-to-life story about the challenges of growing up. Julie Sternberg captures young emotions so perfectly!andquot;
--School Library Monthly
andquot;The measures Eleanor takes to right her wrongs and rise to challenges are beautifully revealed in Sternbergandrsquo;s spare text, which leaves plenty of room for the reader to
empathize. Like Eleanor, this series continues to grow and blossom.andquot;
--Booklist
andquot;The pen and ink drawings capture facial expressions and emotions quite well. A good addition for most early-chapter-book collections.andquot;
--School Library Journal
and#160;
Video
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 and Like Bug Juice on a Burger. She lives in Brooklyn.Matthew Cordell is the illustrator of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Like Bug Juice on a Burger, Bat and Rat, and Trouble Gum. He lives outside Chicago.