The Wise Pickle

A hilariously absurd and philosophical picture book for 3-to-7-year-olds about a pickle slowly withering in the sun, sharing its hard-earned wisdom with the local animal population and preparing to be eaten by a dog (its preferred way to go). For fans of I Want My Hat Back and The Skunk.

A pickle arrives out of nowhere.

"I have lived a lot of life," it says.

As the pickle slowly withers in the hot sun, the local animals ask it questions. Questions like "Do you ever get bored?" and "Are you hungry?" and "Why are we here?"

The pickle has all the answers.

Except one: what happens next?

A truly weird and wonderful book, The Wise Pickle will charm readers big and small with its combination of subtle humor, pathos and ridiculousness, all perfectly captured in Sabina Hahn's delightful illustrations.

Sarah Howden is the author of numerous books for children, including Cone Cat, The Tunnel, and 5-Minute Stories for Fearless Girls. Also an editor, she has worked in the book industry for 15 years. Sarah lives in Toronto with her husband, daughter, and two mischievous cats.

A July/August 2026 Kids' Indie Next List Pick

"With a briny wit, Howden and Hahn offer up a sly parable suggesting that radical acceptance can be goofy, profound and green. . . . Full of tangy absurdity, it’s a picture book fit to be relished." —STARRED REVIEW, Publisher's Weekly

"This delightfully deadpan musing on life urges compassion for others. Howden’s straightforward text is on the philosophical side, though also rooted in the absurd. . . . A thoughtful look at life, in all its beauty and strangeness." —Kirkus Reviews

"With playful pickle illustrations, this weird and ridiculous tale will have children laughing and wondering." —Barbara Hesson, Calgary Herald

"Prospective Samuel Beckett fans — or any readers open to receiving inscrutable life lessons from a pickle — will find much to chew over in this droll slice of deadpan dilly-dally." —Booklist

"[S]arah Howden doesn't just give us a deeply philosophical look at life's journey — there's also a look at who we revere and why. She also tells her story with a dry humor, which is bolstered by NYC's Sabina Hahn's pencil and watercolour art." —CanLit for LittleCanadians

"The Wise Pickle is a hilarious, contemplative story that all ages will eat up and request again and again. It is a must for any library or home collection and would make a delectable gift for any child."—Celebrate Picture Books