The Runaway Pumpkin - Softcover

Lewis, Kevin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439474221 ISBN 13: 9780439474221

Publisher: Orchard Books, 2008

Synopsis

A bumpin' thumpin' rhyming picture book about the delicious fate of a gigantic pumpkin on the run--now available in Scholastic Bookshelf!

When Buck, Billy, and their little sister Lil spy the biggest pumpkin they've ever seen, they can't resist. Buck and Billy try to roll the pumpkin down the hill to show everyone, but it's too big! Before they know it, it's bumping and thumping and rolling down the hillside out of control. This read aloud Halloween treat is perfect for kids and families.

About this title

About the Author

Kevin Lewis has always been a bit of an explorer, and as a kid, he was known to bring home a critter or two. Luckily for him, he grew up on a farm where there was always room for one more. The author of THE RUNAWAY PUMPKIN, DINOSAUR DINOSAUR, MY TRUCK IS STUCK! and CHUGGA-CHUGGA CHOO-CHOO, he left behind the green acres of his childhood for the hustle and bustle of New York City, where he edits books for children.

Review

School Library Journal
(October 1, 2003; 0-439-43974-4)

PreS-Gr 2-A story about an enormous pumpkin that gets out of hand. The Baxter boys make the mistake of cutting it from the vine before they have worked out how to get it safely home. With a repeated rhythmic chorus that kids will love to chime in on, the pumpkin makes its way through the hillside farm, scattering animals and Baxters in its wake. The family members finally manage to get it inside, and Granny cooks up a feast for Halloween supper. Schindler's gouache-and-pencil illustrations are amusing and rich in detail. Children will enjoy seeing the animals' reactions, as the out-of-control pumpkin wreaks havoc on sty and henhouse, and will also appreciate the family's inventive Halloween costumes. This is a fun read-aloud, without the dark overtones of so many of the holiday's stories, but it pays to practice the text once or twice as it can be a bit of a tongue-twister. At the end, readers are likely to be left with a longing for an appendix of Granny's recipes.-Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly
(August 4, 2003; 0-439-43974-4)

In Lewis's (Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo) rhyming tale, it is Halloween day when an enormous pumpkin bounces downhill and through the Baxter family farm. At the sight of this "thumpety/ bumpety/ thumpin'/ bumpin'/ round and rolly/ runaway pumpkin!" the Baxters think not of personal safety but of Granny's pumpkin recipes. Schindler (Skeleton Hiccups), in amusing but untidy compositions, gives each person an astonished expression and a thought-balloon flash of pumpkin bread, soup or pie. Crisis averted, the resourceful family carves a humongous jack-o'-lantern while Granny bakes. A solid choice for children who prefer a slapstick celebration to chills and thrills. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

About this edition

• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0439474221
• ISBN 13: 9780439474221
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Schindler S.D.