Pickle on Wheels
(I Like to Read Comics)

A positively super lesson in persistence.

K-Gr 2–Kantorovitz, from the “Monti and Leo” series, returns with a new offering starring a personable dog named Pickle, who lives on his own with a small bird companion. Pickle is a big fan of SuperDog, a roller-skating TV hero, and soon receives the gift of roller skates and a helmet from his grandmother so he can be just like SuperDog. However, skating proves harder than it looks and Pickle makes several rookie mistakes. After taking a header into a haystack, Pickle wants to give up. A friend named Coco skates by and convinces Pickle to come practice, admitting to many falls ­herself. She inspires Pickle to keep practicing while supporting him both physically and emotionally. Soon he has improved so much that he offers ­another friend, Felix, the same help Coco had given him. A soothing pastel palette plays well with this story of friendship, perseverance, family, and community. Clear dialogue balloons are easily read. The ­action flows naturally from event to event, with four or five large panels per page. Hand this to fans of Nancy ­Carlson’s series “­Harriet” or “Arnie.”

VERDICT This series is a strong choice for early elementary graphic novel collections. Perfect for those who ­enjoy ­stories where kids make mistakes and ­problem solve solutions.

Copyright  2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Clear fonts with lots of white space will be approachable for emerging readers, and the overall message—not only of the importance of resilience but the benefits of sharing newfound skills and interests with friends—is a particularly welcome one for the age group. A fun surprise in the closing pages is a delightful flourish on an already charming package.