MADAM PICCOLO AND THE CRAZIEST PICKLE PARTY EVER. Kukla, Kaila. Illustrated by Mary McLoughlin, Toronto. Annick Press, c1986. unpaged, paper, ISBN 0-920303-66-8 (cloth) $I2.95, 0-920303-67-6 (paper) $4.95. CIP Grades 1 -3 Reviewed by Maryleah Otto Volume 15 Number 1 1987 January Here is a zany farce for all pickle-eating party lovers. Madam Piccolo, whose passion is dill pickles, has decided to invite 4,389 important people to a pickle bash. This may sound like fun for the guests, but it is bad news to the pickle community, whose population is in imminent danger of being wiped out. But never fear: Nickle T. Pickle, a.k.a. Super Pickle, comes to the rescue by popping 43,743 bumpy green frogs into pickle jars and off they all go to the party. The fun and games reach a climax when the jars are opened and out jump the frogs. Undaunted, Madam Piccolo dishes out peppers and pumpkin pies instead and dances til dawn with Super Pickle. Kukla's fanciful yarn has just the kind of nonsensical humour that appeals to five to eight year olds. McLoughlin's illustrations are a perfect match for the text, bright, colourful, and comical. All sectors of the children's book market can use this one. Maryleah Otto, St. Thomas, Ont.