All the neighbors of Pickleton are friendly and get along well together except for the Sours. Their bitterness may leave a harsh taste around town, but a very “jarring” experience changes their acidic tune. With puns, wit, and charm, Pickleton is indeed a sweet place to visit.
“This sweet story embodies the value of diversity in every community. The Pickle children’s bravery in approaching their sour neighbors is commendable and loving. ‘Pickleton’ wonderfully teaches our children to celebrate differences!” —Melissa Jackson, exchange student coordinator
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
“The Pickles of Pickletown remind us to love our neighbors. This book is creative and fun but also full of eternal Wisdom and is just as fun for adults to read as it is for children to listen to.” —Michael R. Metcalf Jr., co-author of '12 Second Culture,’ Co-Founder DECK Leadership, Motorsports Consultant, and Former Board of Directors President of The Charlotte Rescue Mission
The Pickles of Pickleton
“This is a must-read for children growing up in a world of divisiveness and isolation. Through the adventures of the pickles in Pickleton, young readers will learn the invaluable lesson of the golden rule and how to treat others.” —Barry Giller, Head of School Charlotte Christian School
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
The Pickles of Pickleton by Bucleigh Newton Kernodle copyright ©2024 Bucleigh Newton Kernodle All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents, except where noted otherwise, are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any other resemblance to actual people, places or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books. To order additional copies of this book, or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Kids P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 mybook@headlinebooks.com www.HeadlineBooks.com Published by Headline Books Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books ISBN-13: 9781958914298 Library of Congress Control Number: 2023945760
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To all God’s children, we are stronger when we help one another. Kindness and generosity always shine over selfishness. “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Romans 15:2
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There once was a story that might get you tickled.
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Because it involves all kinds of pickles.
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The forest of Pickleton was rooted in love.
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The Pickles learned this from our great God above.
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Each Pickle was different, no one looked the same.
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Some were strong and some were lame.
Some reeked of a bad garlic smell While others were clumsy and always fell.
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The Dill family were known to bring joy and glee to all the Pickleton families in the trees.
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The Breadenbutters were the clumsy group of chips.
They could be salty at times but stayed sweet in their friendships.
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The Koshers stood beautiful, handsome and tall, Never once did they treat others like they were small. 16
The Sweetly family always lived up to their name. They were sweet to everyone and never brought shame.
The Pickleton forest was a happy place to be. The pickles were kind and wouldn’t hurt a flea.
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But there was one family who didn’t show goodwill, and they never wanted to play, mingle or chill. They were the Sour family, so harsh and bitter.
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They sneered at the others as if they were litter.
They kept to themselves and did not socialize. They never gave hellos, they only gave goodbyes. 19
Even though they were the smartest pickles in the land.
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They always missed out on being helping hands. What a shame to see such smart pickles go to waste. Since they stuck to themselves like sticky tomato paste.
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But one day, that all changed when they learned a lesson on friendship that made their hearts turn. It all started when Gherkin and Daddy Dill completely missed seeing a certain juicy spill.
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They were eating at Briny’s Café, when they heard Relish Breadenbutter exclaim, “Oh, hey!”
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He was the town planner of Pickleton events and he usually made very good sense.
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He said, “It’s time to plan the school carnival for Pine Pickle Elementree!’ I need your help please, it’s just a lot to do I foresee. I picture Pickle train rides, pickle bubbles, a pickle petting zoo, pickle cookies, pickle coasters, and pickle kung fu! We need pickle fireworks, and pickle sack races but most importantly we need ALL OF THE PICKLE FACES.
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We need the Sours to come so we can ‘seal the dill’ on all the past bitterness and hopefully they’ll chill. “I quite agree!” Daddy Dill said with great delight, “It is time to put an end to this bitter pickle fight!”
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Relish asked, “What should we do? How can we change their mind? 30
They stay away and don’t like to be sweetly brined.” Just as they were planning the right words to use, relish slipped in wet pickle juice! They don’t know how it happened, it was quite bizarre, the next thing they knew, Gherkin ended up in a jar.
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Everyone in Pickleton, came to help him out. They tried everything from sticks to sauerkraut. He was stuck- in a real pickle, so they say. Relish yelled, “Get the smart Sours! They’ll save the day!”
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Krispy Kosher and Candy Sweetly knew they shouldn’t roam.
So quickly they hurried over to the Sours’ home.
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They nicely begged “Please help Gherkin, the Dill’s dog!”
Mr. Sour replied, “Why us, why should we fix this clog?”
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“Because it’s the right thing to do! God wants us to be there no matter who you are or what you wear.
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‘Be kind to your neighbors and love them all,’ He said. Please stop all the selfishness,” they kindly pled.
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Mr. Sour was open to hear this truth, So he put on his shoes and flossed his tooth. He yelled for the family to join him to town. 38
On the way, he told them to put their bitterness down.
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So the Sours came to help this jarring scene. When they saw everyone helping, they realized not to be mean. They finally understood true friendship and picklehood, and decided to be helpful, loving and good. 41
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With all the Pickles’ wits, love and support, Gherkin broke free. He was a good sport.
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He gave everyone in town doggie kisses, even the Sours, despite their past misses.
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The whole town including the Sours, sat together and talked for hours.
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From that day on, the Sours loved their community.
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And even understood the meaning of unity.
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It’s not right to be selfish when friends are in need.
You’ll always feel better when you do a good deed.
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To treat everyone equally and be a good friend, is the lesson even the Sours learned in the end.
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Be sure to check out the
“I Would Love You Even If” Series to learn others ways God shows us unconditional love!
Award-winning author Bucleigh Newton Kernodle is a Charlotte native and has always been passionate about creative writing. Inspired by her ninth-grade teacher to spread her wings and sparked to push her limit at Elon University by her communications professors and her editors at the Charlotte Business Journal, all culminated in a desire to write children’s books. Her “I Would Love You If ” Series has won the Creative Child Magazine Book of the Year, Gold Mom’s Choice Award Winner, Next Generation Indie Book Award winners, Readers’ Favorite International Book Award recipient, and more. Her faith in God is where she finds her direction. She cherishes being a wife, mother, and daughter to her loving family, and they have never stopped believing in her. 56
All the neighbors of Pickleton are friendly and get along well together except for the Sours. Their bitterness may leave a harsh taste around town, but a very “jarring” experience changes their acidic tune. With puns, wit, and charm, Pickleton is indeed a sweet place to visit.
—Barry Giller, Head of School Charlotte Christian School
The Pickles of Pickleton
“This is a must-read for children growing up in a world of divisiveness and isolation. Through the adventures of the pickles in Pickleton, young readers will learn the invaluable lesson of the golden rule and how to treat others.”
“The Pickles of Pickleton remind us to love our neighbors. This book is creative and fun but also full of eternal Wisdom and is just as fun for adults to read as it is for children to listen to.”
“This sweet story embodies the value of diversity in every community. The Pickle children’s bravery in approaching their sour neighbors is commendable and loving. ‘Pickleton’ wonderfully teaches our children to celebrate differences!”
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
—Michael R. Metcalf Jr., co-author of ‘12 Second Culture,’ Co-Founder DECK Leadership, Motorsports Consultant, and Former Board of Directors President of The Charlotte Rescue Mission
—Melissa Jackson, exchange student coordinator
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle