Pookster and Bubs: A Practically Perfect Book!

Review done by Liz

pookster and the practically perfect pickle

Written By: Rhonda Funk  Illustrations: Eric Kieninger

ISBN: 978-1-935265-41-2

Publisher: Fish Pond, 2010

MSRP: $11.99 includes audio CD

Pookster and the Practically Perfect Pickle, an adorable children’s book, is about a brother and sister who are having a hard time using “sweet” words with one another. The heart of the conflict is that Pookster, the older sister, is having a snack, when her younger brother, Bubs, comes over with his army guy toys. She wrongly assumes Bubs and his soliders are their to take her pickle. Their loving mother steps in to help Pookster see that she needs to use kind words, like a “sweet pickle,” or she could lose her actual pickle to the mean Mommy Forces!

The message focuses on teaching children to use  kind words instead of fighting with one another and the consequences that go with choosing to be a sweet or sour pickle of a person. A good book with a very clear, relatable message for children ages 2 to 8. My daughter is 2 and really loved the story, mostly because the illustrations told the story very easily for her and she could follow what was going on. My son, who is 4, really loved the illustrations too, but he really enjoyed the telling of the story, the words were written in a way that is funny and relatable all at once. He also liked that Bubs played army guys like he does! In fact, my children have had many a fight involving army guys that take over a dollhouse!

The spiritual message in this book is related with the analogy of the pickle, in that we can choose “sweet” or “sour” words; sweet words bring glory to God and sour words hurt others and cause fights. I liked that the spiritual message wasn’t too heavy in the this book, in that there is not a lot of actual Bible verses or language my children wouldn’t relate to, but that Pookster and Bubs, by their actions, words, and choices, are figures that SHOW the spiritual message. The Bible verse at the end sums it up well, “Pleasant words are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24. Just perfect words for my children to hear!  

I highly recommend that you purchase this book if looking for a story that will teach your children to stop and think during a fight, to learn to use their words to bring glory to God and harmony to your house. I will be bringing more Pookster and Bubs books to my house-they are the perfect storybook figures of my own children and the way they relate to one another!

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for sharing my thoughts and feelings about the book on my blog, no other compensation was received.