The Wise Pickle

By: Sarah Howden

Published by Penguin Group, 2026-06-23

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.