May 15, 2015
Pumpkins star in this family-centered early reader. Sketched in rhyming, easy-to-read couplets, this familiar autumn setting is made even warmer by the sweet family that is making a trip to the pumpkin farm. "Sunny day. Pack a lunch. / In the treetops squirrels munch." So begins the story of a black mother and father and their young son and daughter. They find their special pumpkins and return home for carving, just in time for trick-or-treating. Mother and father are shown walking hand in hand or gently guiding their youngsters, who are very excited to pick out the perfect gourd. Read aloud, the predictable rhyme scans well, making this a book for emerging readers to read over and over, gaining confidence each time. The full-color illustrations, full of oranges and yellows, match the words, providing important visual cues. Little ones will laugh when the younger brother initially finds a huge pumpkin and rolls it over the hill like a bowling ball. "Thump! Thump! Thump! Then... / Uh-oh!" Eventually, he finds one just the right size for carving. Children of color are remarkably absent in the easy-reader stacks, so it's an especially welcome treat to see them in this rural setting. Preschool and kindergarten teachers will want to add this to their collections. A warm and welcome story for emerging readers and their families. (Early reader. 3-6)
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September 1, 2015
PreS-Gr 1-Follow the rhyming journey of a small family preparing for Halloween in this delightful title. To their delight, a brother and sister are brought to a pumpkin patch by their parents. The children happily observe nature and enjoy running through the patch and playing on the farm, eventually choosing pumpkins that are just the right size. Together, the family happily make jack-o'-lanterns with whimsical expressions in preparation for the eager trick-or-treaters. A palette of dark reds, oranges, and browns appropriately reflects the autumn theme, and Ransom adeptly balances images with simple text. The rhyming pattern throughout also makes this a nice choice for a read-aloud, particularly in October. VERDICT A fine addition to a school or public library, and a good choice for beginning readers.-Maria Alegre, The Dalton School, New York City
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 1, 2015
Grades K-2 On a sunny autumn day, an African American boy and his family travel to a farm to pick out pumpkins to carve for Halloween. In gentle rhyming text of only a few syllables per line, the boy's trip unfolds with anticipation: Corn fields here. / Red barns there. / Then . . . / Pumpkins, pumpkins / everywhere! Soon he spots one just his size, and they all trundle back home and have a grand time carving their jack-o-lanterns as a family. Meza's warm and stylish digital illustrations of full-color farm scenes, energetic characters, and cute farm animals pair neatly with Ransom's easy-to-read rhymes, offering plenty of context clues for emerging readers. Perfect for back-to-school time, this is a fun and welcoming introduction to independent reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)