This Is NOT a Pumpkin

by Bob Staake

It

may

be round like

a pumpkin and even orange

like a pumpkin, but this is NOT

a pumpkin! If it's not a pumpkin,

then what is it? Preschoolers and

toddlers will love knowing the

answer and enjoy the fun,

"unexpected" ending!

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Holiday, Kids

32 pages, Board Book

First published August 7, 2007

About the author

Bob Staake has authored and/or illustrated more than forty-two books, including The Red Lemon, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His work has graced the cover of The New Yorker a dozen times, and his November 17, 2008 Barack Obama victory cover was named Best Magazine Cover of the Year by Time magazine. He lives on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and silly little book, a good non-scary read for the Halloween/fall season.

[mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I got it last year to help my pre-k class understand the difference between pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. It got them so riled up when I read this for the first time. They kept yelling, "Yes it is! It's a pumpkin." It was hard to keep from laughing. They were hilarious.

I read it to a small group this year while working with play dough to make pumpkins. They loved it as well, but figured it out much faster. :)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with simple illustrations and text. Great way to demonstrate to preschoolers how something may not be what it seems if you don't have all the information. Also good for getting the kids involved...like many of the other reviewers, my 4yo was adamant that it WAS a pumpkin and told me so on every page until the end.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.

[The Campbell Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the kids enjoyed yelling "that IS a pumpkin!!", they did not understand the concept of a jack 'o lantern, and still insisted that was still a pumpkin. So kind of a fail over here.

[Asha McKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quote from my 3 year old: “that book’s a liar, a Jack o Lantern IS a pumpkin”

[MotherofReaders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very simple seasonal board book. Young toddlers (or more reluctant readers) will likely get the most out of this, but my preschooler (who reads and listens widely) still enjoyed it.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This board book is small for little hands. It's a simply told story about a pumpkin that is not simply a pumpkin. Cute story and illustrations.

[Mort's Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ceci n'est pas une... citrouille?

Except it totally is.
I take some exceptions to this book, conceptually. But it's short, engaging and moves well enough that I can't hate too hard.

[Evianrei · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grabbed this at the library because my son loves pumpkins. Interesting title, makes a lot more sense at the end. Doesn't keep his attention much though as the visuals don't vary too much.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my son when he was small. I still read this book every year. I enjoy it every time!

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the right time/right place books.

My toddler giggled so hard.

My thanks to the author and the publisher.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a pumpkin, it's a Jack-O-Lantern.
....Unless you have inquisitive children, in which case on every page you will be told that it is, in fact, a pumpkin.

[Emily Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun cute book for Halloween!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not read this book through before I gave it to my son -- a potentially risky move on my part -- because as soon as he saw it, he wanted it. So, we read it together. My son, at the time, was three-and-a-half years old. I wasn't sure he'd "get" the book. I was wrong. He laughed like a maniac when he reached the final two pages. We read this book several more times -- that same day. And he laughed, every time.

The cover, of course, is what my son saw first. And it is quite tantalizing in a wonderfully Magritte sort of way. This is, and probably will be, the only Bob Staake book where I can refer to the artwork as "illustration", as in singular. But it works because it is a singular illustration. I refuse to give away the ending, so no details on why the illustration works.

If you are looking for a book for a toddler or preschooler the Fall/Hallowe'en season, you cannot go wrong with this one. My little boy still carries it everywhere. And HE reads it. All the time.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up at a baby sale not really expecting much but now I find the sense of humor to be addictive. The art is a bit flat with Staake's typical smooth shapes and absence of line but the composition of the page, allowing the jack-o'-lantern to move around to highlight the different parts being discussed adds interest to what is essentially the same thing shown over and over again. The text is short and extremely expressive, making it an okay choice for the youngest readers.

[Elle Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice book for toddlers, the bright illustrations and catchy writing will keep them trying to guess the answer at the end.

As children read they start questioning why it is not a pumpkin and try to guess. I had one child say "Miss maybe it's a basketball"; keep in mind the child was three and his reasoning was that basketball were round and orange.

Overall, it's a good fun book for the little ones.

Rating 5 out of 5
Read@Book

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at Baby/Toddler Lap Time on 10/7/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Drop-In Story Time on 10/19/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Drop-In Story Time on 9/27/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[T Crockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a simple looking book, there's a lot of creativity. The scene where throwing the the "pumpkin" in the air is suggested always causes laughter. The repetitive wording makes it great for pre-readers and early readers. And the final twist is something that even a 2 year old can appreciate.

[Matthias Everhope · Rating 1 out of 5]

Doublespeak for kids. Each page showing clearly and simply a pumpkin, yet stating the false title. Jack-o-lanterns are in fact pumpkins. Really detest that this exists, put out by major publisher "Little Simon." At best a jocular attempt at humor but more realistically an irresponsible non-narrative that repeatedly confuses children.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pre-Halloween preschool book. Every time I read "This is NOT a pumpkin", DS would counter with "Yes it is!" He was able to make the distinction in the end, which made him very proud of himself and when reading makes you proud and happy, I think that's a winner.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is what obviously looks like a pumpkin not a pumpkin your preschooler might ask. Because, as revealed in the final pages, it's a jack-o-lantern. Younger children might find this book frustrating, but older children will enjoy the resolution.

[Heather C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! My preschoolers love it too, and ask me to read it over and over. The illustrations are really simple and the text is bold and clever. Very cute!

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't often that you find a board book that is a real page-turner. But this one is. Since it is NOT a pumpkin, what in the world IS it? RAFO.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute ending. a story for pre-schoolers w/a twist.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'll have to read it to figure out HOW this could possibly NOT be a pumpkin. My preschoolers were certain the author was confused, until the surprise at the end . . .

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple kids books about Halloween. It makes kids think...well it looks like a pumpkin and smells like a pumpkin but it isn't a pumpkin so what is it?? :-D Fun Halloween book!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so fun to do in toddler time! It was fun to hear them guess what the "it" was if it was not a pumpkin. May also be a cute prop story!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, no it's not. But it is one of our all time favorites.