# Sweet Pickles

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For other uses, see [Sweet pickle (disambiguation)](/source/Sweet_pickle_(disambiguation)).

***Sweet Pickles*** is a series of 40 [children's books](/source/Children's_literature) by Ruth Lerner Perle, Jacquelyn Reinach, and [Richard Hefter](/source/Richard_Hefter) and published by [Holt, Rinehart & Winston](/source/Henry_Holt_and_Company), which have sold over 50 million copies.[1] The books are set in the fictional town of Sweet Pickles and are about [anthropomorphic](/source/Anthropomorphism) animals with different personalities and behavior. There are 26 animals, one for each letter of the alphabet; half are male, and half are female. The books were published in 1977 and went [out of print](/source/Out_of_print) in the mid-1990s. The authors also created [Stickybear](/source/Stickybear) and the [Strawberry Library](/source/Strawberry_Library).

The series' name is a [pun](/source/Pun); in each book, the main character gets into a "[pickle](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pickle)" (a difficult situation) because of an all-too-human personality trait. The front [endpapers](/source/Endpaper) of the books portrayed the 26 characters, and the back [endpapers](/source/Endpaper) portrayed a map of the town.

The books were advertised with [television commercials](/source/Television_commercial) and a catchy [jingle](/source/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](/source/Captain_Kangaroo)*.

In 2012, the brand celebrated its 35th anniversary and the books were re-released as digitally enhanced E-Books, adding sound effects, narration and character voices performed by voice actors. The first 26 Books (A-Z) have been available at all major E-Retailers since Summer 2012. The E-Books were developed by Bento Box Interactive, a spin-off company of [Bento Box Entertainment](/source/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](/source/Alligator)** Gender: Female Manager of the Tower Apartments. Always blaming everyone for things that are usually her own doing.
- **Bashful [Bear](/source/Bear)** Gender: Male Quiet and shy, he is afraid to speak up or try almost anything.
- **Clever [Camel](/source/Camel)** Gender: Female Owns the town's Fix-It shop. She is known for being able to fix anything.
- **Doubtful [Dog](/source/Dog)** Gender: Male Doubts anything and everything, including himself.
- **Enormous [Elephant](/source/Elephant)** Gender: Female Owner of the town's supermarket. Tends to overeat.
- **Fearless [Fish](/source/Fish)** Gender: Female She is a town daredevil, known for her motorcycle and her special helmet-and-tank suit, which serves the opposite function of a SCUBA suit, in that it has a water supply which allows her to breathe in air. She also delivers the village newspaper.
- **Goof-off [Goose](/source/Goose)** Gender: Female Is so lazy, she is always putting off her chores for later.
- **Healthy [Hippo](/source/Hippopotamus)** Gender: Male The town's physician, known for his health tips.
- **Imitating [Iguana](/source/Green_iguana)** Gender: Female She always tries to imitate everyone else.
- **Jealous [Jackal](/source/Jackal)** Gender: Male Is convinced that everyone else is better off than he is.
- **Kidding [Kangaroo](/source/Kangaroo)** Gender: Male The town's practical joker; tends to annoy everyone with his joking.
- **Loving [Lion](/source/Lion)** Gender: Male Loves everyone in town, or tries to.
- **Moody [Moose](/source/Moose)** Gender: Male Very emotional, smiling one minute, crying the next.
- **Nasty [Nightingale](/source/Nightingale)** Gender: Female Always doing nasty or hurtful things to everyone in town.
- **Outraged [Octopus](/source/Octopus)** Gender: Female Very outspoken, and not afraid to put a stop to bad things in town.
- **Positive [Pig](/source/Pig)** Gender: Female Always believes that no matter what happens, it's all for the best.
- **Questioning [Quail](/source/Quail)** Gender: Female She is very indecisive, and is never able to make up her mind.
- **Responsible [Rabbit](/source/Rabbit)** Gender: Male The town's banker, who never seems to deviate from his constantly busy schedule. Metaphorically, he is the hard-working yin to Goose's lazy yang.
- **Smarty [Stork](/source/Stork)** Gender: Male The town's postmaster who seems to have an answer to every question.
- **Temper Tantrum [Turtle](/source/Turtle)** Gender: Female Throws a tantrum when she doesn't get her own way.
- **Unique [Unicorn](/source/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](/source/Vulture)** Gender: Male Always looking at his reflection and thinks he's good looking.
- **Worried [Walrus](/source/Walrus)** Gender: Male Worries about absolutely everything, no matter how innocuous.
- **X-Rating [Xerus](/source/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](/source/Yak)** Gender: Male The town's taxi driver who is always chattering and talking.
- **Zany [Zebra](/source/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 ask Pig to be friends or play banjo-piccolo duets.
- ***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. This becomes a problem when Rabbit points out that her supermarket is in financial trouble, so she has to curb her eating habits to save it.
- ***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. She especially keeps this attitude when she and Walrus try to plan a picnic, but everyone else is too busy (Nightingale just plain old refuses).
- ***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 (which, ironically, is not him).
- ***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](/source/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*

## Related items and books

- *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 331⁄3 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" 331⁄3) 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
1. "What a Wonderful Town This Could Be" - Outraged Octopus
1. "Lion Looks at Love" - Loving Lion
1. "I Do It Too" - Imitating Iguana
1. "Responsible Rabbit Rag" - Responsible Rabbit
1. "I'll Do It Tomorrow" - Goof-Off Goose
1. "Havin' Fun" - Zany Zebra
1. "Isn't It Sweet to Eat?" - Enormous Elephant
1. "Bashful Bare Blues" - Bashful Bear
1. "Tantrum" - Temper Tantrum Turtle
1. "If I Could Make Up My Mind" - Questioning Quail
1. "Stork Spills the Beans" - Smarty Stork
1. "Not Allowed" - X-Rating Xerus
1. "Haw, Haw, I'm Only Kidding" - Kidding Kangaroo
1. "I'm Gorgeous" - Vain Vulture
1. "I Am Clever" - Clever Camel
1. "I'm Moody Moose" - Moody Moose
1. "I'm Nasty Nightingale" - Nasty Nightingale
1. "Health is Very Healthy for You" - Healthy Hippo
1. "It's Your Fault" - Accusing Alligator
1. "Do the Yakety Yak" - Yakety Yak
1. "When the Going Gets Tough" - Fearless Fish
1. "That's Something to Worry About" - Worried Walrus
1. "Whatever Can Go Right, Will" - Positive Pig
1. "Down in the Dumps Again" - Doubtful Dog
1. "It's Not Fair" - Jealous Jackal
1. "Another Birthday" - Unique Unicorn
1. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song (Reprise)" - Pop 26

- The Sweet Pickles characters were voiced by [Patricia Bright](/source/Pinocchio's_Christmas), Fran Carrol, Judy Daley, [Ann Duquesnay](/source/Ann_Duquesnay), [Paul Evans](/source/Paul_Evans_(musician)), Gordon Grody, Rose Marie Jun, [Ron Marshall](/source/The_Year_Without_a_Santa_Claus), Helen Miles, Norris O'Neil, [Anne Phillips](/source/Anne_Phillips_(singer)), Howard Ross, Leslie Shuman, Jerry Terheyden and [Lionel Wilson](/source/Lionel_Wilson_(voice_actor)).
- 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
1. "Responsible Rabbit Rag" -Responsible Rabbit
1. "Tomorrow" - Goof-Off Goose
1. "That's Something to Worry About" - Worried Walrus
1. "Whatever Can Go Right Will" - Positive Pig
1. "Taaaantrum" - Temper Tantrum Turtle
1. "Isn't It Sweet to Eat?" - Enormous Elelphant
1. "Havin' Fun" - Zany Zebra
1. "If Only I Could Make Up My Mind" - Questioning Quail
1. "Stork Spills the Beans" - Smarty Stork
1. "Not Allowed" - X-Rating Xerus
1. "Haw, Haw, I'm Only Kidding" - Kidding Kangaroo
1. "I'm Gorgeous" - Vain Vulture
1. "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
1. "Lion Looks at Love" - Loving Lion
1. "Bashful Bare Blues" - Bashful Bear
1. "I Am Clever" - Clever Camel
1. "I'm Moody Moose" - Moody Moose
1. "I'm Nasty Nightingale" - Nasty Nightingale
1. "It's Your Fault" - Accusing Alligator
1. "When the Going Gets Tough" - Fearless Fish
1. "Down in the Dumps Again" - Doubtful Dog
1. "It's Not Fair" - Jealous Jackal
1. "Another Birthday" - Unique Unicorn
1. "Sweet Pickles Theme Song (Reprise)" - Pop 26

## Notes

1. ["Bento Box juiced over 'Sweet Pickles' - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121108123049/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036238?refCatId=14). Archived from [the original](https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036238?refCatId=14) on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2020-04-20.

1. [\[1\]](http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/11/4553680/classic-sweet-pickles-books-now.html)[dead link]

1. ["Technorati"](http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/welcome-back-to-the-town-of/). *Technorati.com*. Retrieved 2021-05-27.

1. Xerus is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [African ground squirrel](/source/African_ground_squirrel), often used to supply an animal beginning with "X".

## External links

- [YouTube: Sweet Pickles Bus commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGfa3RtqPD4)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sweet Pickles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Pickles) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Pickles?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.