Pumpkins

July 1, 2004
K-Gr 3-In a conversational style, Farmer relates facts, history, legend, and growing tips about one of the favorite fruits of fall. In addition to the de rigueur instructions on pumpkin carving (and safety) and seed toasting, the author includes the word for the berry in other languages, a brief list of pumpkin world records, and recommended readings and Web sites. The serviceable watercolor-and-pencil illustrations feature a multicultural cast of bright-eyed, slightly stiff young children; the art is surrounded by plenty of white space. More detailed than Gail Gibbons's The Pumpkin Book (Holiday, 1999) and less poetic than George Levenson's Pumpkin Circle (Tricycle, 2004), this holiday patch of pumpkin facts will find a place in collections looking for material for Halloween and harvest time.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2004
Gr. 1-3. The pumpkin plant is introduced here, including its anatomy, growth cycle, and historical importance. There are also directions for carving a pumpkin and recipes for making a pie and toasting the seeds. Tildes' appealing pencil drawings, brightened with watercolor washes, depict a multicultural group of cheerful children as they enjoy these and other activities. The closing pages list pumpkin superlatives, words for pumpkin in a dozen countries, and recommended books and Web sites. Farmer does a good job of selecting pertinent information and presenting it in a manner children will find interesting. With a fine balance of information and activities, this colorful book provides good support for primary-grade units on pumpkins.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2005
In this helpful book, the history, growing, uses, related legends (such as the origin of the name "jack-'o-lantern"), and carving of pumpkins are laid out in an easy-to-read and thoughtfully illustrated format. The author includes recipes, websites, a reading list, pumpkin facts, and how to say "pumpkin" in twelve languages.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)