“Pickle is a warm and loving story about a mother and her son after a hard day, exploring their love for one another using hilarious examples children will find silly and understandable.” —Libby Helms, retired Charlotte Country Day fourth grade teacher of thirty-four years
“As a parent, I believe this book belongs among the classics in every family’s collection. Whimsically illustrated, Pickle offers a fresh twist on the expression of unconditional love. It encourages creativity and even competition as parent and child venture beyond its pages to share their own ‘even if ’ affirmations.” —Michael J. Fresina, author, teacher, father “This book is too cute for words! I liked that it has a great message, which is unconditional love, and that nothing kids do can take away that love. It will be a must-buy for me and a great gift to give as well!” —Miranda Miller, blogger, mother, content creator “This book is a creative and sweet reminder of what is most important. Truth about God’s love is a necessary lesson, both for our children and for us.” —Katey Balikian, elementary school librarian About the Author A native of Charlotte, NC, Bucleigh Newton Kernodle has always had a passion for creative writing. Inspired by her ninth grade English teacher to spread her wings, sparked to push her limit at Elon University by her communications professors, and her editor at the Charlotte Business Journal showed her how to make words their very best selves, all culminated into a desire to write children’s books. 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.
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
About the Illustrator Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Teets is a 2012 summa cum laude graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College where she earned a B.F.A focusing on visual art with a minor in creative writing. After completing two semesters of graduate work at West Virginia University Ashley continued her graduate study through the Simmons College satellite graduate program at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. She holds a Masters in Arts Administration through the University of Kentucky. Ashley is also a portrait artist, muralist and art instructor. For more information visit www.AshleyTeetsIllustration.com.
I Would Love You even if you were a Pickle
“This story is bound to produce an endless series of laughter and smiles. Every child deserves to know just how deep, how wide and how out of this world a mother’s love is for them.” —Courtney Broocks, kindergarten teacher
I Would Love You even if you were a Pickle Bucleigh Newton Kernodle illustrated by Ashley Teets
I Would Love You Even if you Were a Pickle Bucleigh Newton Kernodle illustrated by Ashley Teets
I Would Love You Even if you Were a Pickle by Bucleigh Newton Kernodle illustrated by Ashley Teets copyright ©2019 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 Email: mybook@headlinebooks.com www.headlinebooks.com Ashley Teets—Art Director Lucas Kelly—Design/Layout Published by Headline Books Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books ISBN-13: 9781946664525
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018960338
P R I N T E D I N T H E U N I T E D STAT E S OF A M E R IC A
To my loving husband, my mother and my late father. I could not have written this without any of you. Thank you for all your insight, encouragement and motivation. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Because of you, my dream is a reality. To my son, Miller, your words inspire me. Our conversations bless me. You are my precious gift from above. To my mentor and teacher Mike, I love writing because of you. I am grateful for your teachings and all your wisdom. To all the children out there who need to be reminded that it’s ok to make mistakes. It doesn’t mean you are unloved. And to our Heavenly Father who shows us unconditional love daily.
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It was bedtime so his mommy tucked him in his bed, but Miller couldn’t quite lay down his worried head.
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“Mommy, I’m sorry I made a bad choice today. But will you still love me anyway?” His mommy replied with what she knew to be true, “I will always love you no matter what you do.”
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“Thanks Mommy, he said, “but you know what? I would love you even if you were a pickle.”
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“Oh really? Well I would love you even if you were a leaky faucet that goes trickle, trickle, trickle!� said Mom.
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“Well, I would love you even if you were stinky cheese surrounded by buzzing bees,� said Miller.
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“I would love you even if you were a tacky toad oozing slime by the boatload!” said Mom.
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“I would love you even if you were a cactus with too many spikes that strike. Yikes!� said Miller.
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“I would love you even if you were a pesky pigeon not leaving anyone alone-not even a smidgen!� said Mom.
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“I would love you even if you were a greedy honey bear who doesn’t share!” said Miller.
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“I would love you even if you were a lazy hare playing foursquare in his underwear,� said Mom.
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“Okay. “I would love you even if you were spilled lemonade on a newly placed band-aid,” said Miller.
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“I would love you even if you were a shrieking bat who sits on a doormat-beat that!� said Mom.
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“Wow! That sure is a lot of love!” Miller shouted. “It is, Miller!” his mommy explained. “The love I have for you is like the love from above. God loves us no matter what. Whether we are small, big, tall, or stinky, He loves us from our heart to our pinky.”
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He then laid down his head and she kissed him goodnight. Away he drifted off to sleep, as sweet dreams took flight. 31
“Pickle is a warm and loving story about a mother and her son after a hard day, exploring their love for one another using hilarious examples children will find silly and understandable.” —Libby Helms, retired Charlotte Country Day fourth grade teacher of thirty-four years
“As a parent, I believe this book belongs among the classics in every family’s collection. Whimsically illustrated, Pickle offers a fresh twist on the expression of unconditional love. It encourages creativity and even competition as parent and child venture beyond its pages to share their own ‘even if ’ affirmations.” —Michael J. Fresina, author, teacher, father “This book is too cute for words! I liked that it has a great message, which is unconditional love, and that nothing kids do can take away that love. It will be a must-buy for me and a great gift to give as well!” —Miranda Miller, blogger, mother, content creator “This book is a creative and sweet reminder of what is most important. Truth about God’s love is a necessary lesson, both for our children and for us.” —Katey Balikian, elementary school librarian About the Author A native of Charlotte, NC, Bucleigh Newton Kernodle has always had a passion for creative writing. Inspired by her ninth grade English teacher to spread her wings, sparked to push her limit at Elon University by her communications professors, and her editor at the Charlotte Business Journal showed her how to make words their very best selves, all culminated into a desire to write children’s books. 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.
Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
About the Illustrator Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Teets is a 2012 summa cum laude graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College where she earned a B.F.A focusing on visual art with a minor in creative writing. After completing two semesters of graduate work at West Virginia University Ashley continued her graduate study through the Simmons College satellite graduate program at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. She holds a Masters in Arts Administration through the University of Kentucky. Ashley is also a portrait artist, muralist and art instructor. For more information visit www.AshleyTeetsIllustration.com.
I Would Love You even if you were a Pickle
“This story is bound to produce an endless series of laughter and smiles. Every child deserves to know just how deep, how wide and how out of this world a mother’s love is for them.” —Courtney Broocks, kindergarten teacher
I Would Love You even if you were a Pickle Bucleigh Newton Kernodle
illustrated by Ashley Teets