The Pumpkin Fair by Eve Bunting and Eileen Christelow {Picture Book Review}
A warty little pumpkin wins the most-loved prize.
Age Range: 4-8
Overall Rating: 4 stars
Literary Value: 3 stars
Artistic Value: 5 stars
Themes of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
Siblings having fun and celebrating together. Poetic language.
Discussion Questions
Why do you think the little pumpkin wanted to be fierce?
Who was the pumpkin’s role model? Do you think he was a good role model? Why or why not?
What are things that make you feel big and important?
Academic Tie-ins
Science (change, pumpkin life cycle, fall)
Parents might want to know
There is a scene where the children dance in a circle around the pumpkin “singing a song to the terrific, terrible pumpkin with the zigzag grin.”
Spectacular Illustrations
This beautifully illustrated picture book captures the wholesome fun of a local fall festival with all of its costumes, contests, games, and pumpkin-themed fun.
It’s a rhyming book, but, honestly, the rhyme scheme is fairly clunky in parts. There also isn’t much plot to this book. A little girl takes her pumpkin to the pumpkin fair knowing that it isn’t the biggest, the smallest, the prettiest, or the most creatively presented. But she really loves it anyway, because it’s hers and she grew it. Somehow, at least one of the judges sees this love, and rewards it a ribbon.
So why am I reviewing it? Why do I love it?
I really love the illustrations in this book. They are so detailed, and colorful, and everyone looks so happy. You can feel the bright sun and the cool breeze. You can hear the pumpkin seeds being spit and the cheers of the tug-o-war. I can even almost smell the funnel cakes, but maybe that’s just me.
The illustrations make you feel like you’re right there in the middle of all of the best fun that the best of small-town America has to offer at the best time of year. It’s the perfect addition to your sweater weather picture book collection.
