What happens when the injury heals, but the fear sticks around?
That is the heart of Jason Plotkin’s warm and thoughtful picture book, The Pickle, the Patch, and the Puppy: A Story for Kids Who Got Scared by a Dog.
Stevie loves three things: basketball, his mom and dad, and pickles. But one frightening moment changes everything. His aunt’s big black dog, Bo, jumps for Stevie’s pickle and misses, leaving Stevie hurt and scared. His lip gets better, but his fear does not disappear quite so quickly.
Plotkin gives that lingering fear a wonderfully kid-friendly name: the Brain Alarm.
Whenever Stevie sees a dog, that alarm starts shouting inside his head: “LOOK OUT!” It is a simple idea, but a powerful one. Young children may not have the words to explain why they are still afraid after something scary has happened. “Brain Alarm” gives them language they can understand.
Stevie’s mom then introduces another memorable idea: the Bravery Ladder. She explains that being brave does not mean never feeling scared. Instead, bravery can mean feeling afraid and still taking one small step forward.
Stevie climbs that ladder gradually. He shoots baskets while a dog walks in the distance. He rides his bike past a fenced-in dog. He goes trick-or-treating even when dogs are behind some of the doors. Each experience helps Stevie discover that he can handle a little more than he thought he could.
Eventually, Stevie returns to his aunt’s kitchen and meets Teka, a tiny black puppy. He moves slowly, reaches out his hand, and lets Teka come to him. When she licks his fingers, Stevie laughs, and his Brain Alarm finally becomes quiet.
What makes The Pickle, the Patch, and the Puppy especially effective is that Stevie is never rushed or shamed. His fear is acknowledged, his progress is gradual, and courage is presented as something that can grow one manageable step at a time.
That message can extend far beyond fear of dogs. Children face Brain Alarms around doctors, school, swimming, storms, new experiences, and countless other situations.
Jason Plotkin has created a story that can entertain children while also giving families useful language for talking about fear, courage, and resilience.
Reading With Your Kids is proud to recognize The Pickle, the Patch, and the Puppy as a Certified Great Read.
To learn more visit –
www.pickleandthepuppy.com
www.jasonplotkin.com
www.pinderplotkin.com
