4 Pumpkin Books for Fall-Ready Readers

From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin pie, it’s no secret that this festive orange fruit shines brightest in the fall. Here are four headlines to share with readers of all ages fascinated by all things pumpkin.

Edwards, Lisa. Little Pumpkin: A First Halloween Story. illus. by Kat Kalindi. 12p. (Thou Art the Light: Book 2). Viking. August 2022. Board $7.99. ISBN 9780593465189.
Baby-Toddler-In this spooky episode of “You Are the Light”, Little Pumpkin and Big Pumpkin welcome a group of nocturnal forest animals to the annual Halloween ball. Beneath the moonlit night sky, Cat, Owl, Spider and others tenderly express their love for Little Pumpkin using a repeating rhyme scheme: “You are the twinkling light,/ When all around is darkest night dark./ Everyone gathers to see the view./ Little Pumpkin, we love you! Kalindi’s adorable stylized illustrations are bright and brightly colored, with the predictable combination of orange pumpkins on a purple background. There is no significant variation in layout from broadcast to broadcast, which may cause readers to lose interest.The overall layout is quite similar to “You’re My Little” hardback books. “, but, unfortunately, Edwards’ book cannot match the charm of this series. Still, young readers and adults who love these books will want to give this one a try. VERDICT A charming hardback book. It’s not an essential purchase, but it’s sure to disappear from public library shelves on Halloween.–Emily brush

Elliot, Hannah. I am a little pumpkin. illus. by Anna Daviscourt. 14p. Little Simon. June 2022. Board $6.99. ISBN 9781665915939.
Baby-Toddler– A descriptive, brightly colored hardback book features different types of pumpkins that describe themselves to the tune of “I’m a little teapot.” A small pumpkin with green leaves grows from a stem, a large green pumpkin grows next to some beans, a round pumpkin is decorated with green stripes. All pumpkins are delighted with autumn. On each page, pumpkins are lined with various animals, including squirrels, ducks and frogs. Little readers will discover the season of autumn, which is represented here with the orange, brown and red leaves flying off the trees in unison. The pumpkins, drawn in anthropomorphic format, celebrate the joys of autumn by welcoming the season. “When the leaves start to turn, I’ll cheer for red and yellow and this time of year!” Daviscourt’s illustrations, which appear to have been done in watercolor, clearly and brilliantly show the importance of fall colors to the season; most of the leaves on each page are a bright combination of red and orange. With perfectly matched text and illustrations, this book shows the differences between pumpkins in an easy way for young readers. VERDICT Ideal for any nursery collection. Toddlers will really enjoy this story, especially when sung to the tune of the corresponding song.– Annmarie Braithwaite

Kurilla, Renee. Pumpkin Carving: The 9 Essential Pumpkin Designs and Techniques Everyone Should Know! illus. by Keith Zoo. 48p. (Demo Guides). Odd point. Jul. 2022. pap. $6.99. ISBN 9781250784353.
4th-6th grade–Carving a pumpkin is an annual tradition for many, and this book adds to the occasion. It starts with instructions on how to carve a basic Halloween pumpkin, and the projects get more and more difficult as the book goes on. Cute illustrations of pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns sit alongside easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions. Readers can also learn how to make bird feeders out of pumpkins and install pumpkins as flower containers. The list of supplies included with each project is welcome and necessary, and the pumpkin puree recipe at the end of the book is a nice touch. The author gives just enough instruction to inspire readers to think outside the pumpkin patch. VERDICT Simple, easy and well designed. Pumpkin carving is popular, and this book can inspire crafty carvers to take their creations to the next level.–Jami Livingston

Quick, Bella. The pug who wanted to be a pumpkin. illus. by Nina Jones, et al. 160p. (The pug that wanted to be). Aladdin. Jul. 2022. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781534486911; porridge. $7.99. ISBN 9781534486904.
2-4 gr.–Chloe and her pug Peggy are a close-knit team. Wherever Chloe goes, Peggy is there by her side. Peggy has a special ability that no one else knows: she can understand what humans say and talk with other animals, so she’s always in tune with what’s going on with Chloe and her family. In this Halloween edition of their adventures, there’s endless fun with a sleepover, piles of fall leaves, a spooky old house and pumpkins. Most exciting is the Halloween party planned at the cafe his mother holds for the pets and their owners. The only problem is that Chloe doesn’t know which costume she wants. Peggy knows she doesn’t want a costume at all. In fact, she would rather stay home, safe from zombies and ghosts. However, she would do anything for Chloe, so she lets Chloe dress them both up in matching pumpkin costumes, and she’s happy to do so. The party is fun and Peggy can talk with her friends and find out the Ghost Dog’s secret. This first chapter of the book is a sweet and simple story, enriched with illustrations by Jones. Originally published in the UK, the book contains a scattering of Britishisms that may frustrate some readers and complicate understanding. VERDICT An additional purchase where others in the series are popular.– Laura Fields Season