When Pumpkins Fly

by Margaret Lawrence, Amanda Sandland (Illustrator)

This adorable book gives young readers a window into how Halloween is celebrated in an Arctic Inuit community, incorporating contemporary celebrations and Inuit folklore.

The air is cold, the nights are long, and Halloween is just around the corner. This is the time of year when pumpkins fly! In the remote, fly-in community of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, the last cargo flight of October brings some strange orange guests for the children. Seeing a pumpkin for the first time, the local kids eagerly carve and light their first jack-o-lantern. But when everyone adjourns to the community hall for the Halloween dance, the pumpkin is left alone outside. The land around Sanikiluaq is home to many spirits who love to cause mischief, especially this time of year. But what would a land spirits do with a pumpkin? This adorable book gives young readers a window into how Halloween is celebrated in an Arctic Inuit community, incorporating contemporary celebrations and Inuit folklore.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Indigenous, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Cultural

26 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flown up to the far-northern town of Sankiluaq, in Nunavut, a group of pumpkins - hardly native flora! - are put to use as part of the local school's Halloween festivities in this engaging seasonal picture-book from Inuit-owned Inhabit Media. One pumpkin is sent to the narrator's class, and he and his fellow students enjoy carving it into a jack-o-lantern, and roasting and eating its seeds. Then he is selected to bring it home, and to place it outside his house for the night, as the local community goes trick-or-treating, and attends the annual Halloween party at the community center. Coming home that night, and lying in bed, he thinks of the tunnaat - spirits from Inuit folklore - said to roam at night...

Much like Gail Matthews' Simonie and the Dance Contest , an Inhabit Media title devoted to the Christmas festivities in a small Inuit town in Nunavut, I enjoyed When Pumpkins Fly in part because it offers a glimpse into the celebration of Halloween in a community that is unfamiliar to me, one that is culturally and geographically quite different from the one in which I myself grew up. I would imagine that it will be interesting to many young readers and listeners for the same reason, but it will also hold appeal as a story in itself. Many children enjoy the rituals and activities of Halloween, and in that sense, Margaret Lawrence's story will feel familiar, despite its unfamiliar setting. For Inuit children in Nunavut, of course, the setting will not be unfamiliar at all. I liked the incorporation of Inuit creatures into the story - Halloween is, after all, a time for all such beings to come forth - but I would have wished to see that aspect of the story expanded upon just a bit. Leaving that aside, this was an enjoyable seasonal read, with an engaging story from teacher Margaret Lawrence, and cute, cartoon-style illustrations from artist Amanda Sandland, who also illustrated Susan Aglukark's Una Huna?: What Is This? . Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Halloween stories with somewhat unusual settings.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to see this book, featuring Halloween in the remote community of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. The author, though not Inuit herself, has spent many years in the Canadian Arctic and said "she has been fortunate to learn from four generations of Qikiqtarmiut, the people of the community she calls home." The book is published by Inhabit Media, "an Inuit-owned publishing company, with our head office located in Iqaluit, Nunavut. To our knowledge we are the only independent publishing company located in the Canadian Arctic. Our aim is to preserve and promote the stories, knowledge and talent of Inuit and northern Canada." Thus, I feel it's safe to assume this is a fairly authentic portrayal of a Halloween celebration in this community--and I'm so happy this book exists!

That said, the book itself was a bit lackluster for me. The illustration style was a bit too cartoony for my taste, and the storytelling didn't sparkle as I'd hoped. Most of all, as someone unfamiliar with the cultural elements in the story, I found myself feeling confused about the tunnaat. As the boy drifts off to sleep on Halloween night, he thinks of "the tunnaat who live out on the land. Halloween is a night to think about these ancient and wise beings that like to visit our community. When the night is dark, the tunnaat are awake." Nothing in that text made me feel that the tunnaat are something to be feared, yet in the illustration boy is clearly frightened as he pulls the covers up to his chin and glances about with a worried look. Later, he mentions that the tunnaat come into and out of houses and other buildings, looking for things they need, and he ponders whether they will take his jack o' lantern and what they might do with it. The tunnaat are depicted in the illustrations as shadowy figures, with long fingers and rather ghost-like faces, smiling. I would have greatly appreciated an author's note explaining more about the tunnaat and what they mean to the Inuit people. Frustratingly, when I googled "tunnaat" the only links that came up were for this book. So, I appreciate the book showed Halloween in a present-day Inuit community, but I wish it had been more educational for those wishing to learn more.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book, but it only hints a seeing some Inuit mythical creatures, and then stops the story right there. Most children to the south know about trick or treating, which the Inuit children do as well. So spending time in the story discussing that, then then only hinting at the local spirits robs the reader of what might have been a really cool story.

Cute book, but I wanted more.

Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book looking at one community's traditions in celebrating Halloween. Would have loved to have shown my students this when I was the school librarian in a community in Eeyou Istchee, just across the water (and several hundred kilometres) from Sanikiluaq. Very strange that the summary says this is an "Arctic Inuit community" when it is actually quite far south (56th parallel), but I suppose publishers like the rest of southern Canada think anything 3+ hours north of a city is the arctic. Really enjoyed seeing how a fly-in community gets pumpkins and reading about what a typical Halloween would look like. The tunnaat was introduced in a way that was spooky but not too scary. This book would be a great way for teachers to open a discussion about everyone in the class's different Halloween traditions, and to introduce what the class is going to do for Halloween. I might try reading it in class visits near Halloween!

Highly recommended for grades 1-3.

[Villain E · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent premise but poor execution. Pumpkins are flown to a northern indigenous community for Halloween. Local Halloween traditions are talked about. But there's no introduction or context. The text is small and the font is weird, so it's unlikely a kid is going to read this on their own. And, often, what's in the text does not match what's in the art. This was not put together well.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this colorful picture book provides a glimpse into how an Inuit community celebrates Halloween, I was a bit disappointed. After all, the only flying that those pumpkins do is when they arrive in the Arctic region by plane. I would have appreciated knowing more about how they were transported, and then having the book cover how the youngsters reacted to the pumpkins and how they brought them into their celebration of the holiday. If nothing else, the book made me think about how well some holidays and traditions translate across cultures and how poorly some do that. It sounds as though families and the whole community are always a part of whatever the youngsters in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, where the story is set. Teachers might want to share this with their students so that they can identify the similarities and differences in celebrating Halloween and fall between their culture and the one depicted here.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book doesn't know what it wants to be.
It stars out about how pumpkins are delivered to different places (hence how pumpkins fly, which honestly felt like a let down. I was hoping for something magical and silly, not just pumpkins in a cargo hold).
Then it talks about a kid in class getting to carve a pumpkin and take it home to decorate for halloween.
Then when the pumpkin rots, the book inserts some Inuit legend (I think, it's not super clear) about a spirit or something (it never actually tells you anything about it) that comes by at night.
I think any one of these ideas could have made a great book, but writers these days don't know how to pick a lane and stick with it. When a book or movie tries to be everything, it ends up being nothing.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to read about how Halloween is different for this First Peoples community, but the book didn't really mention any examples. The school kids just had a generic Halloween party. There was a huge missed opportunity when we never found out what the Tunnaat were or why they are relevant to Halloween-time. The illustration styles were very inconsistent, like a handful of artists each contributed a portion of the drawings and it just didn't present a very cohesive visualization.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanikiluaq is a remote town that gets all its supplies through cargo planes. At Halloween, the plane flies in pumpkins for the school children! Each class gets to carve a pumpkin, and they draw names to see who gets to take it home for their front porch. They light candles inside each pumpkin. The children don their costumes and get bags full of candy trick-or-treating at each house. Then the whole community gathers for a Halloween dance. But when they go to bed, the children wonder if the tunnaat spirits will come out and steal the pumpkins. Or will the pumpkins freeze when the candles burn out?

I liked this snippet of life in an Artic Inuit town. You can really feel the delight of the children as they enjoy the holiday! There is a blend of modern traditions with old folklore that makes this book special. However, the tunnaat spirits going in and out of houses might be too scary for young children.

The illustrations are brightly colored and beautifully designed. However, some of the artwork looks like it was done digitally, and other bits were done in pencil. The art styles vary and I found that strange. It would have looked better to use one style throughout the book instead of mixing them. There is this one airplane drawn in pencil at the beginning that especially stood out in an odd way. The art could have been more cohesive. As it is, it is distracting.

This book captures the fun atmosphere of Halloween without being too creepy or scary. The whole story is cute and fun!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

WHEN PUMPKINS FLY is about the arrival of pumpkins via plane that are then taken to the classroom where children carve them. One child gets to bring the pumpkin home and put it out while they all go trick-or-treating. At night, after they go to bed, the tunnaat come to gather what they need in and out of houses - will they take the old pumpkin with them?

What I loved: It is so great that this brings some aspects of Inuktitut culture with it. I loved hearing new words and learning a little bit about a different culture. Although most are customs we all share around Halloween, the tunnaat and some of the foods may be new to readers. The illustrations are really fun with lots of color and good depictions of the writing.

What left me wanting more: The tunnaat as shadowy figures coming at night in and out of houses when you are sleeping may be a bit scary for young/sensitive readers. I think older picture book readers would likely not find this scary, but it is worth mentioning. I also would have loved to see more about the culture, but I know it helps children connect with things they are also familiar.

Final verdict: WHEN PUMPKINS FLY is a lightly spooky picture book that introduces some aspects of Inuktitut culture around the fun of Halloween.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Paul Sutter]

This is a charming tale about the Inuit community of Sanikiluag in Nunavut. It is a community that gets all its supplies flown in by plane. The narrator anticipates the arrival of pumpkins that are being flown into the remote area for Halloween.
As a matter of fact, many of the children in the school have never seen one, so this turns into a really momentous occasion. But once they arrive some of the children are mystified in a way, wondering what they are supposed to do with the pumpkin? They do cut it open, eat some of the raw insides and toast pumpkin seeds. They also carve a face on it.
But now the big moment arrives when a name will be drawn. That student will get to take the pumpkin home to put on their porch. The narrator’s name is chosen and he takes the pumpkin home. He puts it on his porch just as the children in the area begin their trick or treating.
Then they go to the community hall for more Halloween fun. But when the boy goes to bed he wonder if the tunnat may come later that night. They are mystical creatures that come in the night, living off the land. The boy wonders and hopes they might take away the old pumpkin.
The ending may be a bit intense for children, who may wonder if these creatures could come during their sleep state. Best kept for Halloween, as the book revolves around that time.

[Elley Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more from this book. It's about a pumpkin being flown into this remote Arctic Inuit community, and they carve it and put in a candle and set it outside while they go trick or treating. It was neat to read about some parts of their culture that are different from my own (like drinking a lot of tea and I looked up what "bannock" is with my kids so we learned something!) But then in the last two pages it brings up the tunnaat, which are pictured as these creepy shadow figures that go into houses and stuff. It made the entire book end on a sort of scary note, so maybe not the best for a bedtime story.

Guest review by Jaime (age 6):
"Scary."
Did you like the book? "Yeah, sure."
What was your favorite part? "The shadow part at the end part."
Would you read it again? "Yeah, we should."

Guest review by Link (age 4):
"I liked it so much, it wasn't scary. It didn't creep me out, it doesn't do a jump scare on me."

A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.

Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many, this one left me wanting more.

The title comes from the airplanes that fly pumpkins into a small Arctic community in time to celebrate Halloween. The pumpkins are taken to the school, where each class raffles off the carved pumpkin to take home. The children go trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods, then jump into bed to avoid the tunnaat (a cultural spirit) who might abscond with the pumpkin.

Lawrence has done an admirable job of sharing the Halloween tradition as celebrated by this community, however there is little tension to the story and just stops with a question and prompt: "But what will the tunnaat do with an old, old pumpkin? Taima/The End Until pumpkins fly again... Feels like a bit of a letdown, unless this is culturally correct - in which case, a note to explain this should be given. A page on pronunciation of Inuktitut words is included.

Digital illustrations by Amanda Sandland are appropriately dark and spooky-looking, giving a suitable feeling for the day/night. Native children will appreciate seeing themselves in this one.

Unfortunately, I had hoped for more.

Optional purchase for PreSchool-grade 2.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had sat down to think about it, I would have wished/hoped that the modern festival of Halloween had not reached Nunavut – that the sanctioned sweet begging etc had been kept away. But no – this is proof that it is just like anywhere else in America – the school class gets to fashion a pumpkin into a nasty face, one of the lucky kids gets to take it home with them, there's the parade of costumes from all the trick-or-treaters, the potential of goose soup for dinner, the horrible, eldritch tunnaat on the prowl…

OK, the goose soup and the tunnaat aren't common to every Halloween everywhere. But that's the point – the pumpkin is flown in special, to kids who have never seen one in the wild before. You're left feeling this is here to entertainingly educate about the festival, as well as to remind the young about the horrors of the beasties outside in the cold that actually are part of their culture. It certainly succeeds on both fronts, meaning the Arctic communities this publisher serves will benefit and enjoy this. To anyone else this is an anthropological diversion, but to the intended readers this is a four star window on the subject.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halloween features some standard elements: costumes, jack-o-lanterns, candy. But how exciting when the pumpkins must be flown in on a special plane, or when the local tunnaat lurk around along with other monsters and spirits. I really enjoyed looking at how Halloween is celebrated in Sanikiluaq, a fly-in community in the Hudson Bay. Afterward, I found myself doing some poking around, wanting to know more about the author, illustrator, and the community itself. The story was so interesting, I couldn't help wanting more information.

Halloween

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Head to the Arctic Inuit community far north in this unique Halloween tale. Here a few pumpkins arrive on the last cargo flight in October. Kids will enjoy comparing and contrasting their Halloween with the one celebrated by the Inuit children. A relatable look at a culture not often found in picture books.

[Bekah Hubstenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

With so few Native stories being published and the real dearth of diversity in holiday childrens books I wanted to love this. However at some points the narrative seemed disjointed and the tunaat subplot could have been incorporated more cohesively. This is one that I will still recommend to include in holiday collections though!

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to see that this story takes place in a different type of community than my own, and was eager to learn something new. I did have trouble with the font choice, and thought the illustrations were a bit odd. The illustrations were a strange mix of realistic drawings and very cartoony images. I felt it took away from the story and was a bit distracting.

[Alison N · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at how Halloween is celebrated in a community in Nunavut, and how their culture shapes the holiday. I was not expecting that when I picked up the book (I hadn't read the description and was picturing magic flying pumpkins) and was pleasantly surprised.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Halloween celebration in the Inuit community includes a pumpkin. School children carve the jack-o-lantern and one lucky student gets to take it home.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book simply has no heft to it. I love the idea of learning about an Arctic Inuit community, but this just doesn't cut it. Oddly, it feels far too wordy for a book that is so light in content.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Inuit story of pumpkins flying to the Canadian Artic, being carved in the school, and then the tunnaat creatures who carry the pumpkins away Halloween night.

[Brittany]

This one actually got a bit spooky for my 5 & 7 yr old. The element of flying pumpkins in was unique.

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute. Loved the pictures.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars