Books that Take You There: The Pumpkin Patch

Tis’ the season of pumpkin spice lattes, jack-o-lanterns, and pumpkin pie. Pumpkins have a magical quality that is essential for this time of year. Here are some fun picture books to read that take you to the pumpkin patch and celebrate the tradition of carving jack-o-lanterns!

Pumpkin Magic

Written by Ed Masessa
Illustrated by Nate Wragg
New York: Cartwheel books, Scholastic Inc., 2020. Picture Book.

When the moonlight shines on these pumpkins they come to life and go on exciting adventures through the night! Rhyming along their way, they have hilarious fun trick-or-treating and dressing up. As morning comes they make their way back home and wait for the next night’s adventure.

Pick a Pumpkin
Written by Patricia Toht
Illustrated by Jarvis

Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2019. Picture Book.

A family visits the pumpkin patch and experiences the joy of picking out the perfect pumpkin. They extend the fun by inviting friends and family over to carve the pumpkin into a glowing jack-o-lantern. It is the perfect book to read before going to the pumpkin patch!

Pumpkin Heads!

By Wendell Minor

Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2021. Picture Book.

A fun and inclusive book about Halloween spirit that jack-o-lanterns bring every year. It starts with those who pick out the perfect pumpkins at the pumpkin patch and take them home to carve into pumpkin heads. Trick-or-treaters come to see all of the spooky pumpkin heads.

It’s a Pumpkin!

Written by Wendy McClure

Illustrated by Kate Kronreif
Chicago, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company, 2020. Picture Book.

Field Mouse and Squirrel run into a big round object in the middle of the road and disagree on what it might be. Their friends come around and join in on the fun of guessing what it might be and what it could be used for. A fun little story about all the ways you might use a pumpkin.

The Great Pumpkin Contest
By Angela Rozelaar
New York: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2019. Picture Book.

Two cats are in competition to win a pumpkin contest. Things take a turn when the pumpkins grow bigger than they ever imagined. The cats in competition end helping each other and learn what really matters.

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba Café By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba Café. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba Café. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

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