FICTION

How to Help a Pumpkin Grow

by Ashley Wolff (text) & illus. by Ashley Wolff
Beach Lane/S. & S./. Jul. 2021. 40p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481419345.
COPY ISBN
Toddler-PreS–Pumpkin tales abound, but Wolff’s contribution to the harvest is sweet and welcome. An anthropomorphized pup begins planting pumpkins early in the year. As the seasons progress, animal friends join in the work and, ultimately, share in the pie and jack-o’-lantern rewards. The gouache illustrations are vibrant and cheerful, using generous line weight and soft edges to emphasize the agrarian feel. The brief, rhyming text is ideal for sharing aloud. Observant readers will notice many fun details in the spreads, including a helpful little mouse who appears in almost every scene. Children will also observe that only the dog possesses human traits, wearing clothes and wielding opposable thumbs, while the other animals are less anthropomorphic.
VERDICT This sweet book is a general purchase for libraries where pumpkin-related fare is in high demand.–Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR
Reviewed by Taylor Worley , Sep 01, 2021

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