Big Pumpkin

Rating:
Summary: A great Halloween book that makes it a lot less scary
Review: Every night when my three-year-old goes to bed either my wife or I read to her. I love it this time of year because we read this book over and over and never get tired of it.

This book features a number of horror icons: a witch, a ghost, a vampire, a mummy, and a bat. But they are all presented humorously as they struggle with the same problem, how to move a huge pumpkin to the witch's house so she can bake pumpkin pie for Halloween?

The witch, ghost, vampire, and mummy each take a stab at moving it, only to each fail individually. When the bat shows up, he has the answer.

Not only is this tale funny and entertaining, it contains some subtle messages, i.e., size and strength aren't everything, brains are usually better than brawn, and teamwork is the best way to accomplish a daunting task.

We read this so much that I just bought a new copy as the old one is pretty worn after a being read on-and-off over the past year. A truly great read at Halloween.

Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to "scary" figures
Review: I read this book to my daughter last October when she was just a little over two. She's just turned three and we're using it as our pre-Halloween reading again. What I like best about the book is that the characters, a witch, ghost, vampire, mummy and bat, aren't at all scary. They all have the same sole interest, eating pumpkin pie. There's no witchcraft, no haunting, no nasty mischief. They're basically silly characters, offering parents a good way to introduce young children to them in a way that might later neutralize potentially scarier meetings. This book will not give my three year old nightmares - she may, however dream of pumpkin pie.

Rating:
Summary: Great content, poor quality
Review: My son adores this book. He asks for it all the time, and loves to talk about the pumpkin rolling down the hill, thump-bump, thump-bump... As much as I love to read this book to him, I have finally thrown it away and will be buying it in library form because the pages fell out of the book after probably three reads and I can no longer keep them in order. I don't believe I have any other books by this publisher, and will try to keep it that way.

Rating:
Summary: Teacher's Favorite
Review: Of all the Halloween books I have in my Halloween box at school, this is the one my students love the best. Since I began using it 4 years ago, my classes(K-2)have usually had it memorized and could say the verses outloud with me as I read. The pictures are incredible. The story is darling. If you happen to come across the book on tape, grab it up quick. The producers put the words to delightful music, and voices that make the book come to life.

Rating:
Summary: Big Pumpkin is Big Fun!
Review: This delightful retelling of the old Big Turnip story is a Halloween favorite of my Kindergarten class. They learn the repetitive lines quickly and love to exclaim "DRAT" with the witch as she patiently watches the ghost, vampire, and mummy fail to yank her big pumpkin from its vine. And when the bat has the winning idea, we learn that cooperation is good for all. We also love to act this book out. A Winner. My suggestion, however, is to AVOID the paperback. Mine fell apart after three readings and is now held together with LOTS of tape!