Pick a Pumpkin

Book excerpt: “This charming picture book is sure to get readers into the Halloween spirit. . . . A crowd-pleaser, perfect for home snuggling and group storytimes alike.” —Booklist (starred review) Pick a pumpkin from the patch. Tall and lean or short and fat. Vivid orange, ghostly white, or speckled green, might be just right. Pairing a wonderfully rhythmic read-aloud text with expressive retro illustrations, the creators of Pick a Pine Tree here capture all the excitement and familial feeling of a favorite holiday tradition. Readers will be happy to follow along, from picking out the perfect specimen at the pumpkin patch (be sure to stop for cider and toffee apples) to carting it home, scooping out the insides, carving a scary face, and finally lighting a candle inside—savoring the familiar ritual of transforming an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind glowing jack-o’-lantern.