Pumpkin Cat

PreS-Gr 1—"One morning in May, Cat wondered, 'How do pumpkins grow?' 'I know,' said Mouse. 'And I will show you how.'" Mouse proceeds to guide Cat through the various steps and stages, one phase featured on each spread, until October arrives and they are rewarded with a large orange pumpkin. The steps to growing pumpkins have been featured in numerous picture books, including Zoe Hall's It's Pumpkin Time! (Scholastic, 1994) and Jeanne Titherington's Pumpkin, Pumpkin (Greenwillow, 1986); what sets this one apart are the beautifully composed watercolor illustrations. As she did in Bunny's Easter Egg (HarperCollins, 2010), Mortimer has masterfully captured the texture of her subjects—the softness of the animals' fur, the scratchiness of burlap bags, the silkiness of delicate flower petals, etc. At times the scenes are viewed in oval frames, giving the impression that one is peeking into these gentle creatures' private world. A page detailing instructions for growing pumpkins is included. A lovely addition that should be popular in any season.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ