National Pumpkin Day Books

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.

Comments

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013. 336 pgs. Fantasy Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life. He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines. Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

From Story Time: Summer Week 5

Stories in the Park Mousterpiece: A Mouse-Sized Guide to Modern Art By Jane Breskin Zalben New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Picture Book. Janson the mouse, who lives in a museum, becomes an acclaimed artist by copying the styles of paintings she sees there. Includes notes about the artists and works featured. --Editor Stories in the Park Gray Written by Laura Dockrill Illustrated by Lauren Child Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2024. Picture Book. Some days you may feel sunshine yellow or orange-balloon bright. Other days you're gray, or even night-sky black-like a dark scribble on a page, a storm in the clouds, or a puddle in the road. Gray is when you don't feel like yourself, or like you don't belong. But however you feel, there are big hugs (red) and loving lullabies (blue) waiting, and even the grayest sidewalk is a canvas for you to fill with the colors you choose. A tender narration from British spoken-word poet Laura Dockrill and subtle, spare artwork from fo...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog