Sweet Pickles

Sweet Pickles is a series of 40 children's books by Ruth Lerner Perle, Jacquelyn Reinach, and Richard Hefter and published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston, having sold over 50 million copies.[1] The books are set in the fictional town of Sweet Pickles and are about anthropomorphic animals with different personalities and behavior. There are 26 animals—one for each letter of the alphabet. The books were published in 1977 and went out of print in the mid-1990s. The authors also created Stickybear and the Strawberry Library.

A Sweet Pickles book

The series' name is a pun; in each book, the main character gets into a "pickle" (a difficult situation) because of an all-too-human personality trait. The front endpapers of the books portrayed the 26 characters, and the back endpapers portrayed a map of the town.

The books were advertised with television commercials and a catchy jingle. There also existed a similar series, The Alphapets, on which Ruth Lerner Perle collaborated in the early 1990s.

The Sweet Pickles books were read in various episodes of the CBS television series Captain Kangaroo.

In 2012, the brand celebrated its 35th anniversary and the books are being re-released as digitally enhanced E-Books. Sound effects, narration and character voices performed by voice actors have been added to the books. The first 26 Books (A-Z) have been available at all major E-Retailers as of Summer 2012. The E-Books were developed by Bento Box Interactive. Bento Box Interactive is a spin-off company of Bento Box Entertainment.[2][3]

Characters

These people living in the town of Sweet Pickles are 26 animals, with their names beginning with each letter of the alphabet.

  • Accusing Alligator
    Gender: Female
    Manager of the Tower Apartments. Always blaming everyone for things.
  • Bashful Bear
    Gender: Male
    Quiet and shy
  • Clever Camel
    Gender: Female
    Owns the town's Fix-It shop. She is known for being able to fix anything.
  • Doubtful Dog
    Gender: Male
    Doubts anything and everything, including himself.
  • Enormous Elephant
    Gender: Female
    Owner of the town's supermarket. Tends to overeat.
  • Fearless Fish
    Gender: Female
    She is a town daredevil, known for her motorcycle and her special helmet. She also delivers the newspaper
  • Goof-off Goose
    Gender: Female
    Always putting off her chores for later.
  • Healthy Hippo
    Gender: Male
    The town's physician, known for his health tips.
  • Imitating Iguana
    Gender: Female
    She always tries to imitate everyone else.
  • Jealous Jackal
    Gender: Male
    Is always wanting everything that everyone else has.
  • Kidding Kangaroo
    Gender: Male
    The town's practical joker, tends to annoy everyone with his joking.
  • Loving Lion
    Gender: Male
    Loves everyone in town, or tries to.
  • Moody Moose
    Gender: Male
    Very emotional, smiling one minute, crying the next.
  • Nasty Nightingale
    Gender: Female
    Always doing nasty or hurtful things to everyone in town.
  • Outraged Octopus
    Gender: Female
    Very outspoken, and not afraid to put a stop to bad things in town.
  • Positive Pig
    Gender: Female
    Always believes that no matter what happens, it's all for the best.
  • Questioning Quail
    Gender: Female
    She is very indecisive, and is never able to make up her mind.
  • Responsible Rabbit
    Gender: Male
    The town's banker, who never seems to deviate from his constantly busy schedule.
  • Smarty Stork
    Gender: Male
    The town's postmaster who seems to have an answer to every question.
  • Temper Tantrum Turtle
    Gender: Female
    Throws a tantrum when she doesn't get her own way.
  • Unique Unicorn
    Gender: Female
    The oldest citizen in town who is not too old for having fun. Her often used catch-phrase is "Things aren't what they used to be."
  • Vain Vulture
    Gender: Male
    Always looking at his reflection and thinks he's good looking.
  • Worried Walrus
    Gender: Male
    Worries about absolutely everything, no matter how innocuous.
  • X-Rating Xerus
    Gender: Female
    She writes signs and doesn't allow anything. She has a stamp in one hand, and a pencil in the other.[4]
  • Yakety Yak
    Gender: Male
    The town's taxi driver who is always chattering and talking.
  • Zany Zebra
    Gender: Male
    Known for his unorthodox behavior, and isn't afraid to be different.

Books in the series

Sweet Pickles is a fictional town with animal residents, whose misadventures impart basic values, ethics and social skills to children. A variety of techniques are employed in the series, such as comedy, music, story-telling, and active play. There was one book for each of the 26 Sweet Pickles characters, each representing a letter of the alphabet:

  • Who Stole Alligator's Shoe?: Accusing Alligator blames everything and everybody for anything that happens. She's not nice, and she's as mean as Nightingale.
  • Scaredy Bear: Bashful Bear is so shy he is afraid to try almost everything. He is known as scaredy bear. Too scared to see horror movies.
  • Fixed by Camel: Clever Camel is very practical and she can fix anything, including Kidding Kangaroo.
  • No Kicks for Dog: Doubtful Dog doubts anything and everything, including himself.
  • Elephant Eats the Profits: Enormous Elephant loves to eat and eat and eat and eat.
  • Fish and Flips: Fearless Fish careens around town on her motorcycle wearing her special helmet and tries to prove how fearless she is.
  • Goose Goofs Off: Goof-off Goose is a procrastinator. She is always putting things off.
  • Hippo Jogs for Health: Healthy Hippo always has the latest and greatest answer for keeping fit. This week it's jogging.
  • Me Too Iguana: Imitating Iguana doesn't see how unique she is, and wants to be just like everybody else.
  • Jackal Wants Everything: Jealous Jackal is convinced that everyone else is better off than he is.
  • Who Can Trust You, Kangaroo?: Kidding Kangaroo does not know when to stop joking, clearly annoying all he sees.
  • Lion Is Down in the Dumps: Loving Lion would like to love everybody all of the time.
  • Moody Moose Buttons: Moody Moose constantly changes his mood.
  • Nuts to Nightingale: Nasty Nightingale is so mean that she upsets and hurts everyone she meets. She makes everyone cry.
  • Octopus Protests: Outraged Octopus is not afraid to say “No!” when she sees bad things go on around town.
  • Pig Thinks Pink: Positive Pig is absolutely sure that no matter what happens, she believes it is all for the best.
  • Quail Can't Decide: Questioning Quail can not make up her mind.
  • Rest, Rabbit, Rest: Responsible Rabbit is so busy that he never takes time to relax.
  • Stork Spills the Beans: Smarty Stork has answers for every question, including who delivers babies.
  • Turtle Throws a Tantrum: Temper Tantrum Turtle will do almost anything to get her own way.
  • Happy Birthday, Unicorn: Unique Unicorn may be the oldest citizen in town, but she is not too old for fun.
  • Kiss Me, I'm Vulture: Vain Vulture is self-centered and thinks he is better than everyone else.
  • Very Worried Walrus: Worried Walrus worries a lot—especially about riding a bicycle.
  • Xerus Won't Allow It: X-Rating Xerus thinks that telling people what is not allowed will solve all problems, but she understands that isn't always the case.
  • Yakety Yak Yak Yak: Yakety Yak always talks and never listens.
  • Zip Goes Zebra: Zany Zebra is not afraid to be different, which really annoys Alligator, Dog, and Kangaroo.

A poster and a plastic book case (which included a personalized decal set) was included with the subscription.

Additional Weekly Reader books

There were also 14 additional Weekly Reader books:

  • A Bad Break
  • The Grand Prize
  • The Great Race
  • Ice Cream Dreams
  • Quick Lunch Munch
  • Rainy Day Parade
  • Robot S.P.3
  • The Secret Club
  • Some Friend
  • Wait! Wait! Wait!
  • Wet All Over
  • Wet Paint
  • What A Mess
  • What's So Great About Nice?

Avon Books and products
  • Splashes and Bubbles and Foam and Other Soapy Things (AKA Avon Presents: All About Body Care, a Fun Book and Record)
  • Curls and Bangs and Tangles and Other Hairy Things (AKA Avon Presents: All About Hair Care, a Fun Book and Record)
  • Smiles and Grins and Giggles and Other Toothy Things (AKA Avon Presents: All About Tooth Care, a Fun Book and Record)
  • Avon Pick a Pack of Sweet Pickles Puzzles (a pack of puzzles)
  • Avon Accusing Alligator Bubble Bath
  • Avon Loving Lion Non-Tear Shampoo
  • Avon Outraged Octopus Toothbrush Holder and 2 Toothbrushes
  • Avon Zany Zebra Hairbrush
  • Avon Fearless Fish Face Mask and Face Soap
  • Avon Yakety Yak Taxi Cab Sponge and Bar of Soap
  • The Noisy Book Starring Yakety Yak (smaller softcover)
  • The Angry Book Starring Temper Tantrum Turtle (smaller softcover) ISBN 0-394-85541-8
  • The Scaredy Book Starring Worried Walrus (smaller softcover)
  • The Messy Book Starring Goof-off Goose (smaller softcover)
  • Two Read Along and Sing Along Stories: Why Do Socks Have to Match? and Clean-Your-Room-Or-Else! Starring Goof-Off-Goose Book and 33​1⁄3 record.
  • "Goof-Off Goose's Dinner Party," a scratch and sniff book published by Random House.
  • "Sweet Pickles 'Get to Know the World' Dictionaries," A-Z, published by Time Life.
  • Sweet Pickles Activity Bus - Preschool Program. This was a green plastic bus filled with 5 × 7 cards describing activities for preschoolers. It included well over 150 cards, cardboard game boards, a spinner, plastic playing piece bases, etc.
  • Sweet Pickles Board Game by Selchow and Righter
  • Sweet Pickles Figurines by Enesco (a Christmas set included figurines of Accusing Alligator, Kidding Kangaroo, Moody Moose, Healthy Hippo, Responsible Rabbit, and Worried Walrus).
  • Goof-Off Goose and Worried Walrus ceramic bookends by Enesco.
  • Loving Lion and Accusing Alligator ceramic piggy banks by Enesco.
  • Sweet Pickles aluminum garbage can by Balanoff featuring a large illustration of the entire cast of Sweet Pickles characters.
  • Aluminum wall plaques featuring Goof-Off Goose and Healthy Hippo by Balanoff.
  • Responsible Rabbit and Worried Walrus ceramic coffee mugs by Enesco.
  • Series of Valentine's Day-themed ceramic coffee mugs by Enesco featuring various Sweet Pickles characters.
  • Plush Christmas ornaments featuring Accusing Alligator and Worried Walrus.
  • Plush stuffed animals of various Sweet Pickles characters.
  • Sweet Pickles hair clips featuring Goof-Off Goose, Zany Zebra, and Bashful Bear.
  • Health Is Very Healthy For You starring Healthy Hippo, vinyl LP, Parachute Records; 1983.
  • Pop 26: Songs With Giggles and Tickles and Life's Silly Pickles by The Sweet Pickles Players (1980) (Catalog #EU 802A). A 2 LP (12" 33​1⁄3) set on Euphrosyne Records. It came with paper punch-outs of the Sweet Pickles Players and The Sweet Pickles Stand Up Play Stage. It features the songs:
  1. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song" - Pop 26
  2. "What a Wonderful Town This Could Be" - Outraged Octopus
  3. "Lion Looks at Love" - Loving Lion
  4. "I Do It Too" - Imitating Iguana
  5. "Responsible Rabbit Rag" - Responsible Rabbit
  6. "I'll Do It Tomorrow" - Goof-Off Goose
  7. "Havin' Fun" - Zany Zebra
  8. "Isn't It Sweet to Eat?" - Enormous Elephant
  9. "Bashful Bare Blues" - Bashful Bear
  10. "Tantrum" - Temper Tantrum Turtle
  11. "If I Could Make Up My Mind" - Questioning Quail
  12. "Stork Spills the Beans" - Smarty Stork
  13. "Not Allowed" - X-Rating Xerus
  14. "Haw, Haw, I'm Only Kidding" - Kidding Kangaroo
  15. "I'm Gorgeous" - Vain Vulture
  16. "I Am Clever" - Clever Camel
  17. "I'm Moody Moose" - Moody Moose
  18. "I'm Nasty Nightingale" - Nasty Nightingale
  19. "Health is Very Healthy for You" - Healthy Hippo
  20. "It's Your Fault" - Accusing Alligator
  21. "Do the Yakety Yak" - Yakety Yak
  22. "When the Tough Gets Tough" - Fearless Fish
  23. "That's Something to Worry About" - Worried Walrus
  24. "Whatever can Go Right, Will" - Positive Pig
  25. "Down in the Dumps Again" - Doubtful Dog
  26. "It's Not Fair" - Jealous Jackal
  27. "Another Birthday" - Unique Unicorn
  28. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song (Reprise)" - Pop 26
  • A 45 rpm single was released featuring "What a Wonderful Town This Could Be" by Outraged Octopus on the A-side and the previously unreleased "You Can't Say Enough About Love" as the B-side. Released on Parachute Records # 814 944-7.
  • There were 2 audiocassette tapes with written lyrics included distributed by Creative Learning Products in collaboration with Euphrosyne, 1982:

First Cassette - Responsible Rabbit Rag including these songs:

  1. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song" - Pop 26
  2. "Responsible Rabbit Rag" -Responsible Rabbit
  3. "Tomorrow" - Goof-Off Goose
  4. "That's Something to Worry About" - Worried Walrus
  5. "Whatever Can Go Right Will" - Positive Pig
  6. "Taaaantrum" - Temper Tantrum Turtle
  7. "Isn't It Sweet to Eat?" - Enormous Elelphant
  8. "Havin' Fun" - Zany Zebra
  9. "If Only I Could Make Up My Mind" - Questioning Quail
  10. "Stork Spills the Beans" - Smarty Stork
  11. "Not Allowed" - X-Rating Xerus
  12. "Haw, Haw, I'm Only Kidding" - Kidding Kangaroo
  13. "I'm Gorgeous" - Vain Vulture
  14. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song" (reprise)- Pop 26

2nd Cassette - Bashful Bear Blues including these songs:

  1. "What a Wonderful Town This Could Be" - Outraged Octopus
  2. "Lion Looks at Love" - Loving Lion
  3. "Bashful Bare Blues" - Bashful Bear
  4. "I Am Clever" - Clever Camel
  5. "I'm Moody Moose" - Moody Moose
  6. "I'm Nasty Nightingale" - Nasty Nightingale
  7. "It's Your Fault" - Accusing Alligator
  8. "When the Tough Gets Tough" - Fearless Fish
  9. "Down in the Dumps Again" - Doubtful Dog
  10. "It's Not Fair" - Jealous Jackal
  11. "Another Birthday" - Unique Unicorn
  12. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song (Reprise)" - Pop 26

Notes
  1. Weisman, Jon , "Variety", May 2, 2011, accessed June 17, 2011
  2. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/11/4553680/classic-sweet-pickles-books-now.html
  3. http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/welcome-back-to-the-town-of/
  4. Xerus is a genus of African ground squirrel, often used to supply an animal beginning with "X".
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