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National Pumpkin Day Books

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 National Pumpkin Day is today, October 26th and I'm pretty sure that if it wasn't for Halloween these orange round gourds probably wouldn't be as famous. Halloween, no doubt, is the best thing that has happened to pumpkins. Who hasn't carved a pumpkin at least once or used a pumpkin as part of a Halloween tradition? In honor of  National Pumpkin Day here are five picture books that will help create some special memories for little pumpkins.


Pick a Pumpkin
Written by: Patricia Toht
Illustrated by: Jarvis
Candlewick Press, 2019. Picture Book.

Pick a pumpkin from the patch. A wonderful rhyming book about the holiday tradition of going to a pumpkin patch, choosing the right pumpkin, bringing it home, and carving it into a glowing Jack-o-lantern. 


10 Spooky Pumpkins
Written and Illustrated by: Gris Grimly
Orchard Books, 2021. Picture Book.

A Halloween countdown as 10, not just 5, little pumpkins sitting in a line wait for their turn. You will discover spooky twists and turns as you travel around the countryside discovering Halloween creatures who are celebrating under the full harvest moon. A delightful rhyming Halloween read-aloud the whole family will enjoy. 


Pumpkin Heads
Written and Illustrated by: Wendell Minor
Charlesbridge, 2021. Picture Book.

Halloween is a time to pick pumpkins and carve them into pumpkin heads of every shape and size. Simple language and stunning artwork bring this story to life as you see all of the characters created from a pumpkin head. A perfect book to celebrate Jack-o-lanterns. 


How to Help a Pumpkin Grow
Written and Illustrated by: Ashley Wolff
Beach Lane Books, 2021. Picture Book.

What does it take to help a pumpkin grow? Dog is planting a garden and protecting his pumpkins from the snow and barnyard creatures. Will Dog share his pumpkins with the other animals? Read the book to find out.  A perfect story that explores the autumn season in a rhyming tale of gardening and unexpected friendship. 


Runaway Pumpkins
Written by: Teresa Bateman
Illustrated by: Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Charlesbridge, 2020. Picture Book.

It's a class trip to the pumpkin patch when a bumpy road causes all the pumpkins to spill out of the bus storage bin. All the pumpkins end up rolling into yards and back into the wild. When the students get back to the school they are left with only one large pumpkin. Together they decorate the pumpkin for the harvest festival but a surprise awaits the students. The neighbors have gathered all the runaway pumpkins and created something special. A message of kindness and sharing.










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