Title: Deli’s Pickle
Author: Karen Carmack Clinton
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN: 978-1480889323
Pages: 100
Genre: Children’s Books
Reviewer: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
One of the toughest lessons a child can learn when growing up is the fine line between being independent and being bossy. To have a differing view on life, or to grow an individual personality is to be expected and encouraged throughout a child’s life, but there is a difference between individuality and rude, stubborn behavior. Part of growing up is learning that a person doesn’t have all the answers to life, and sometimes there are others who know more or are more experienced in things, and so there comes a time when respect and courtesy must be utilized in society.
Driving home these lessons is the key to author Karen Carmack Clinton’s Deli’s Pickle. The story follows a young mouse from a hidden underground community of mice who always does things her way, often ignoring her parents and doing what she wants rather than listening to them. However, a scary chain of events soon leads the mouse to discover the most difficult challenge a mouse can learn; that sometimes the best thing a mouse can be is to be kind and respectful of others.
A fast paced and insightful read, this children’s book did an incredible job of balancing entertaining children and educating them. The simplicity of the characters and the story was on par with the thoughtful approach to the themes of respect and kindness. The way the author was able to mirror Deli’s story with a human counterpart, and showcase the aggravation and sometimes even fear that bossy behavior or even rude behavior as a whole can bring to others around them allowed the reader to really connect with Deli as a character and visualize the experiences which she encountered both in the forest and in the presence of humans later on.
This is a perfect book for those who enjoy children’s books, especially those with more focus on storytelling and character development rather than imagery. The cinematic quality of the story itself felt like something waiting for a Disney or Dreamworks Animation studio to bring to life, and the way the tragic circumstances of Deli’s dilemma bring her closer than ever to her family and her community, all add more depth not only to the powerful themes of this book but the lesser known theme of connecting with animals and showing them the respect they deserve out in the wild. Karen Carmack Clinton’s storytelling invites readers of all ages to pause, smile, and embrace life’s little surprises.