Dear Marc Brown;
Oh, dear Mr. Brown! Why did you fail me? Okay, your Arthur books (original) were a bit odd, yet there was always something about them that one could enjoy. The TV series of same name was delightful. Other books you have written and illustrated have delighted many times. Now here is a book about pickles, appropriately enough named, Pickle Things.
I love a good dill pickle and was hoping that a book about pickles would have potential. With the concept of “Have you ever seen a pickle do “X” there was so many chances for the yuck-yucks, giggles and laughter to flow. Sadly, it was not the funny yucks, but the “YUCK! This is gross” kind of Yucks.
Your illustrations blend together. I was almost not sure when one ended and the next started. There is no imagination with the color. They are basic, crude and a couple times down right disgusting. If I had not looked to see who the author and illustrator was I would not have realized they were yours. Your signature style is missing. Serious Gross Alert Ahead: the pickles coming out of the faucet look like the poor faucet is having…. well Number Two issues. The pickle nose is hideous and the pickle toes? I may never eat another pickle again!
There is nothing redeeming about it. It is weird. There is nothing funny. I know this might have been an early attempt into the world of literature (as this edition I read was a reissue), yet, I do not see how this became worthy of a reissue.
Dear Dear Mr. Brown. Please, with all the love I can mustard, please ask your publisher to stop printing this.
Thank you,
A fan