The Pumpkin Book

by Gail Gibbons

Overview

From an acclaimed science author, here's everything about pumpkins—including how they grow!

In this cheerfully-illustrated, simply-presented book, children can learn about the growth cycle and many varieties of pumpkins, and even how to plant their own.  Award-winning author Gail Gibbons also relates the special role pumpkins played in the first Thanksgiving, the history behind carving pumpkins into jack'o'lanterns, and how pumpkins are still part of our celebrations today.


 The book features bold, clearly-labeled illustrations, directions for drying seeds, and even how to carve funny or scary faces into your pumpkin (with an adult's help), along with a fascinating section on pumpkin facts and lore. Perfect for aspiring farmers and kids who can't wait for Halloween!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823416363
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/01/1999
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	236,641
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 9.96(h) x 0.14(d)
Lexile:	AD640L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gail Gibbons "has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator," according to the Washington Post. Winner of the 2010 Regina Award, she has written and illustrated more than fifty books for Holiday House. She lives in Corinth, Vermont.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 3-Another example of Gail Gibbons' excellent treatment of a popular nonfiction topic for young students, The Pumpkin Book (Holiday, 1999) explains the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of pumpkins using bold illustrations and simple text. The book is narrated by Polly Collier in a deliberate, unenthusiastic manner that emergent readers might find boring. She carefully explains the page-turn signals (on Side A only) and that the words at the bottom of the page are read first and then the words on the upper "picture" section of the page are read. Most of the words in the upper section are labels of plant structures and pumpkin varieties, and having these words narrated between the reading of the text could confuse young listeners. A well-written book on a popular topic, this title does not transfer successfully to the audio format.-Shauna Yusko, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

The Pumpkin Book (32 pp.; Sept. 15; 0-8234-1465-5): From seed to vine and blossom to table, Gibbons traces the growth cycle of everyone's favorite autumn symbol—the pumpkin. Meticulous drawings detail the transformation of tiny seeds to the colorful gourds that appear at roadside stands and stores in the fall. Directions for planting a pumpkin patch, carving a jack-o'-lantern, and drying the seeds give young gardeners the instructions they need to grow and enjoy their own golden globes. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews