I shared your sense of relief, when teachers would divide us up into groups against our will. Meanwhile, everyone else would be whining because they weren't allowed to be partnered with their friends.

You are correct about the "Sweet Pickles" series. You can only buy them secondhand from independent sellers. I hope your son enjoys his retro collection of vintage "Sweet Pickles" books as much as I did growing up. Knowing my luck, my "Sweet Pickles" series will probably pop up in a random bin somewhere, whenever my childhood home gets sold (in the future) and we're packing everything up. :-P