Pumpkin Day!

by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

It’s fall, and the rabbit family―Trudy, Jack, Mom, and Dad―are spending the day with pumpkins! After a yummy breakfast of pumpkin pancakes, they visit Pumpkin Hollow Farm and learn all about different kinds of pumpkins and how they grow. Then they pick pumpkins and carve pumpkins and make a delicious pumpkin supper, too. Pumpkin recipes and crafts just right for ages 5-8 are included in this fun seasonal story. With “simple, yet dynamic collage artwork” ( Booklist , starred review), this book is sure to get you and your little ones in the mood to celebrate fall!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Halloween, Holiday, Animals, Thanksgiving, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace attended the University of Connecticut, and majored in sociology and psychology with a minor in art history, then continued on for a master’s degree in child development.

For many years, she worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital with children and teenagers as Child Life Specialist helping children to understand what was going to happen if they needed to have a medical test or an operation or a cast.

Then she took two adult education courses, one was about traditional Scherenschnitt (share- en -sssh -nit) scherren means scissors, schnitt means cut. The other was about writing and illustrating children’s books. When she brought in a
cut-paper illustration, the teacher said, “You’ve found your medium!”

Nancy is married to Peter Banks. They have been married for more than 30 years. He is a high school Physics teacher.

They live in Branford, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Jordan Krasniewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pumpkin Day!" by Nancy Wallace follows a family of bunny rabbits with two small children Trudy and Jack, and their two parents as they go through what their family calls "pumpkin day". The family gets to wake up and have pumpkin pancakes, as well as go to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins. The children learn all about where pumpkins come from, how they are grown, and the many different ways pumpkins can be used. Once home, Trudy and Jack get to use the pumpkins they picked out from the patch in a variety of different ways together.
The theme of this book is the importance of learning where objects come from, and how something can be used in a variety of different ways if learned about properly.
I thought this book not only had a creative story about the bunny family, but also was packed with information and recipes, which I think can be beneficial in so many ways. After reading this book I had learned several new things about pumpkins and had a fun "to-do" activity, both inspiring me to learn even more about pumpkins and what I could do with them.
I would recommend this book to a classroom of younger students, especially during the fall time! This book would fit in well with a fall themed lesson plan, or a day dedicated to pumpkins. The teacher could have the students record facts they learned, and possibly have the students bring in pumpkins to decorate or bake something together from one of the recipes in the book.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a career of children’s librarianship for over 35 years, I can say this author’s books are excellent books for sharing with Kindergarteners through about 2nd or 3rd graders. (I did find it to be a little too sophisticated for any younger children.) They are entertaining with delightful illustrations and nice little story, but also are nonfiction incognito —that is, they have information that is age-appropriate, but because it is hidden in a story, it is not preachy. I believe having it as part of a story helps the children retain the facts longer too. Also parents and teachers can reinforce the learning by making some of the recipes in the books, or by making other pumpkin recipes (there are billions out there in Autumn!) and also by visiting a pumpkin patch (also plentiful in Autumn) and making their own Jack-O-Lanterns.

[Taylor Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the onomatopoeia was displayed in the story. Another thing I enjoyed was the signs throughout the pumpkin patch, thats a great addition and I know students enjoy that. Definitely my favorite part at the end is of the story with the recipes. Sadly, I probably couldn't do this in class but I could print out the recipes for my students and they can take it home and maybe do them at home.

[Presley Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pumpkin Day! is a cheerful and educational story that follows Bunny and his family as they visit a pumpkin farm to pick the perfect pumpkins. Along the way, readers learn fun facts about pumpkins and the steps it takes to grow them—from seeds to harvest. The bright cut-paper illustrations and simple text make this a perfect seasonal read for young children.

[Kali Hilliard · Rating 2 out of 5]

K-2; informational; I did enjoy the fact that there was a recipe that you could incorporate into a lesson! The kindergartener however, did not enjoy the story she even told me “all the pictures are so similar.” In her defense I have to agree. I even got bored reading aloud to her honestly.

[Back · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with recipes and facts about pumpkins.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warm, sweet picture book with facts, recipes, jokes, etc about pumpkins. Simple storyline accompanies.

[Amy Oelschlaeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first saw the cover of this book, I doubted that I would like it. Turns out, this book would be perfect for a kindergarten class right before they would take a trip to the pumpkin patch. The author included easy recipes to make with the different parts of the pumpkin. I loved the cute jokes and quick facts as well. I bet every kindergartener would light up reading this book!

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, Pumpkin Day! (Marshall Cavendish, 2006)

Full disclosure: this book was provided to me free of charge by Amazon Vine.

Not a bad little book, chock full of pumpkinalia and some very cute illustrations that look to be papercraft. The only reason it gets a slightly lower rating than Patches Lost and Found is because of a book published almost fifteen years before it, Katharine Ross' The Little Pumpkin Book, which has been a Goat Central favorite almost since the Bean was born, and which is much more to the point (granted, it is also more focused on the life cycle of pumpkins rather than trying to be a catch-all pumpkin book). Still, I would hazard that there is easily room for both in your collection, and I guarantee as of this writing this one is easier to find. I'd say this one should probably be targeted to the border between pre-lit and first reader; it's a little old for the two-year-old Bean. ***

[Kristi Mellott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the book "Pumpkin Day." It is a very interesting and informative book for young children to read. This book follows a rabbit family as they go to the pumpkin patch, pick out their pumpkins, and prepare a special meal and jack-o-lanterns. The book explains the process of pumpkins growing, and many other facts about pumpkins. It includes questions and jokes throughout the book to keep young readers engaged. I would recommend this book for any young child, especially around the Fall season!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read before visiting a pumpkin patch! Fun bunny family visits a farm and has pumpkin dishes all day (pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie) - recipes included. One thing I particularly like about this book is the de-emphasis on Halloween, dressing up, etc. The author does mention the history of jack-o-lanterns and the two pumpkins the family carve at the end have happy faces!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good way to introduce young children to the "science" behind pumpkins--when they grow, what the different parts of the pumpkin are called, what the different varieties are named, etc. The "illustrations" are like felt collages; so you'll feel soft and cozy reading it. There's nothing remarkable in the storytelling, but the "learning" takes place as you follow the bunny family through their "pumpkin day" (a day when the chose pumpkins to carve, make pumpkin-based foods, etc.)

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trudy and her brother Jack are very excited that it's Pumpkin Day! The day where their family eats pumpkin pancakes and goes to the pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkins. Once they are at the pumpkin patch, Mrs. Bell teaches them all about pumpkins. Eventually the siblings find the pumpkin they want to take home. Once home they waste no time in carving their pumpkins into scary jack-o-lanterns!

Recipes included.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of the illustrations, but my daughter HAD to have a "Halloween" book today. This is basically a book of facts about pumpkins, related in a way interesting enough to hold her attention, and it contains some info. I didn't know. So I've been schooled too.

[Jenn Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and adorable! This shows in a way kids will understand what pumpkins on and how they grow. On top of that, they have recipes worth trying in the book. My daughter loved it, and she wants to try the pumpkin pancakes!

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that it told a story (for my Pre-K class), it had recipes that gave me more ideas what to do with my class, and it gave lots of wonderful information about pumpkins. The illustrations were super adorable!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about pumpkins and how they grow and what to do with them when you pick them. Very educational.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable cut-out illustrations. Rebus illustrated recipes are included for you to make with your kids.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling illustrations but the information was even better. I liked this book on many levels.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was really cute, but my kindergarten son was not as enthused. Probably too cute for him. He prefers Pumpkin Circle

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book by Nancy Wallace on life cycle of plants. This one comes with some actually pretty good looking, easy pumpkin recipes.

[Anica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute pictures that look almost 3D. Cute story and lots of information about pumpkins.

[Annalise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read again when older

[Michelle (MichellesBookishLife)]

Pumpkin Day! by Candice Ransom is a rhyming book about pumpkin picking in the fall. Meet goats, squirrels and ponies as the kids find the perfect size pumpkin in Pumpkin Day! by Candice Ransom.