The Pumpkin Runner

by Marsha Diane Arnold, Brad Sneed

An Australian sheep rancher who eats pumpkins for energy enters a race from Melbourne to Sydney, despite people laughing at his eccentricities

Genres: Picture Books, Australia, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Geography, Inspirational, Halloween

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Called a “born storyteller” by the media, Marsha Diane Arnold is a picture book author of 21 books, with over one million books sold. Her books have garnered honors from Best First Book to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Smithsonian Notable and won state book awards. Her more recent books include Houghton Mifflin’s WAITING FOR SNOW, illustrated by Renata Liwska, and Roaring Brook Press’ LOST. FOUND., a Junior Library Guild selection which received three starred reviews and was illustrated by Caldecott winner Matthew Cordell. MAY I COME IN?, a book about inclusion and kindness, has just been released from Sleeping Bear Press and four new books are coming, including a bilingual book from Lee & Low, GALÁPAGOS GIRL.

Marsha enjoys sharing her love of story through school visits, manuscript consultations, her Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books e-course, and especially by reading to her three grandchildren.

Growing up on the Kansas prairies, Marsha lived in Northern California for most of her life. Now she lives with her husband in southwest Florida, near the Caloosahatchee River and her daughter’s family, only a short flight from her son’s family in NYC. Besides creating stories, her favorite activities are scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, traveling, gardening, and climbing trees.

You may learn more about Marsha, her books, and her world, at www.marshadianearnold.com.

Reviews

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pumpkin runner not only had an exciting plot structure but also served as a good example of the type of lesson I would want my students to know. I respected the main character as he served as a humble hero. I also enjoyed how a true scenario inspired this story. In this picture book the passages were a little longer. I would suggest this picture book for 2nd-5th graders. The Pumpkin Runner provides an opportunity to discuss honorable actions with students. Another topic one could incorporate in the lesson is point out the actions Damien the antagonist took towards winning the race. Damien pride couldn’t stand loosing to someone who never trained as hard as he did so out of embarrassment he cheated. I enjoyed reading some of the dialogue. The class could discuses how the characters can be described from their dialect. The reader could assume that the setting of the story appeared to be in Australia because of the Australian slang that was incorporated in the characters dialect.

[Amy Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is such an interesting combination of fact and fiction! It reads much like a tall tale, and as I turned the pages, I found myself marveling over the reality that there was indeed a 61 year old man who ran and won this race! Marsha Diane Arnold and Brad Sneed have crafted this story beautifully through their spot-on combination of words and art, with just the right amount of humor and suspense. Aunt Millie and her pumpkin stew, Yellow Dog, orange gumboots, hot air balloons, and a shady competitor named Damien Dodgerelle make for memorable details that kids are sure to love. And I love to see longer picture books like this one still on the shelves, as this is one that both my 7 and 10 year old kids find simply fascinating.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arnold presents a wonderful story based on the real-life exploits of a 61-year-old Australian farmer - wearing gumboots and overalls, accompanied by his faithful Yellow Dog - who beat out younger opponents in a 542 mile run between Sydney and Melbourne. A delightful tale of perseverance enhanced by Brad Sneed's artwork.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww, what a neat story! It's based on true events, too!

[Romelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Marsha Diane Arnold is a great story teller! This picture book has a higher word count than most picture books these days, but Arnold captures the essence and joy of running beautifully. The Pumpkin Runner was inspired by a true story of a 61-year-old farmer from Australia who ran 542 miles, from Sydney to Melbourne. I love a good story about a character who goes out and performs an unlikely feat and surprises everyone. An amazing and fun story!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is based off a true story about a 61 year old sheep rancher who enters a 900 kilometer race. He is laughed at because of his age, the way he dresses, and because he is always eating pumpkins for speed. Will he win the big race by just being himself?

Reminds me of the story The Tortoise and the Hare.

[Cathy aka The Attached Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my 3 year old, but my 8 year old was the one who I saw was most enthralled. We all really enjoyed the illustrations and the story. My 3 year old enjoyed running around the room being "fast" after I read him this. My older kids and I appreciated it was based on a true story. Very interesting read!

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, 61 year old Australian farmer Joshua runs a 900km race in overalls and boots among professional runners. Fuled by pumpkins, this race follows his journey from Sydney to Melbourne.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a children's story about a middle-aged Australian man who liked to run. He received special strength and energy from eating pumpkins. He enters a 900 kilometer race for the fun ofrunning.

[Janae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is based on the true story of an amazing 61 year old farmer who won a 542 mile run between Sydney and Melbourne. What a guy!

[Ms Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gracious, what an amazing fall read a loud! This book is inspired by a true story.
The author, Marsha Diane Arnold, writes an exciting and inspirational read about a 61 year old man, Joshua who wins a race from Sydney to Melbourne wearing overalls and gumboots and eats pumpkin for his energy!
Now you see, Joshua is not taken seriously as a runner because of his age, what he is wearing and what he eats for his nutrition. If any of you are runners, you know his attire is unconventional but NOT for Joshua. You see, he runs everyday on his 10,000 acre ranch to check on new born lambs and rescues injured sheep. Wow, now that would be great training for a race!
This book offers valuable lessons for all kiddos (big and small): to be yourself, don't allow others to influence you and cheaters never win.
Joshua was made fun of at the beginning but at the end was a humble hero who just enjoyed running.

** Stop by my YouTube channel ' Storytime with Ms. Kim ' for this fabulous read a loud!

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

When truth is stranger than fiction ... Most tall tales have their inspiration in unique individuals, and Cliff Young is one such man. This is the story of a sheep farmer who beat the record for the 500 mile race from Sydney to Melbourne by two days. He runs in his gum boots and eats pumpkins for energy. It was nice to have a book about Australia not entirely based on its animals, but as my 7yo declared, this book was just "okay." The illustrations in particular were kinda odd and stretched out of proportion. Also, it never really explains how he gets ahead of the other runners. Does he just not sleep? 🤔 And he beat the record by two days, but it doesn't tell us how long it took. It would have been nice to have more detail about the actual race and not just his outfit and pumpkins and the other runner who tried to cheat.

#passportaroundtheworld #australia

[Eric Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story with beautiful art. We loved reading this story to our children and they loved it as well. It has been over a decade since we bought this book. We own five of Marsha Diane Arnold's children's books. We loved them all, but I think this was my favorite. Her stories seemed a little more nuanced than a lot of the children's books and I think that helped with the repeated reads. The art is lovely. The story (which was actually inspired by a real person and event) was great and I'd never heard it before. As your kids get older you inevitably start to slim your collection of picture books down, but Marsha Diane Arnold's books still remain in our collection. I think we will save them to read to the grandkids someday.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true story, here's an enjoyable tale from Down Under that will set you cheering for Farmer Joshua and Yellow Dog!

Ages: 4 - 9

#geography #australia #truestory

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Kary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is based on a true story of an elderly man who won a race against much younger opponents in a 542 mile run in Australia. He shaved 2 days off the previous record. He split his prize money - $10,000 with the other runners. Definitely an inspirational and interesting story. Good read aloud for the fall.

[Luella Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read. I love his running attire and pumpkin energy food. It just goes to show that the fancy footwear and energy drinks aren't the real reason runners win races. And his AGE! Good to show those yunnins' !

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictional children's picture book about an older Australian rancher who runs everywhere he goes, and enters a race, fueled by his secret weapon - pumpkins! It's based on the true story of Cliff Young, who really did win such a race at the age of 61 in 1983.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are engaging and the story is great for illustrating that joy is in the doing, not the winning. Plus, I love all things pumpkin, so a fun story for fall and celebrating the delicious and nutritious pumpkin.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arnold Adventure #6
Story inspired by Cliff Young, an old geezer who won the ultra marathon.
Not much of his story apart from the fact he was a shuffling farmer who won the race.
The real story may have been better to tell.

[Gloriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork and quaint storytelling make and ice the (pumpkin) cake for this autumn-themed tale. I love that ol' guy in his boots, with yellow dog trailing behind. Don't forget the sun on the pumpkins from beneath the eucalyptus trees.

[Kenneth Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story loosely based on true story of 61 year old Australian man who beat the record running over 500 miles in a race from Melbourne to Sydney

[MotherofReaders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this inspirational and entertaining story based in Australia and on a true story. It is a longer book that may work best for an older (elementary school age) child. My preschooler listened and stayed engaged and was able to answer questions about the story afterward, but she did not ask to read it again and didn’t talk about it like she often does with books she loves. We will plan to check it out again when she is older.

[Mandy Beyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't miss the author's note on the last page - it makes the story!

[Little Seesaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this story and even better it is true. There is just something about running it is so hard to start but once you get in that rhythm you just don't want to stop.

[Nolan Brendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it because the guy was in a race with his dog and he won $10,000 and he shared it with everyone.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story based on true events. Read when we did a study on Australia.

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a Fall story, but based on a real-life person in 1983 Australia! Someone to admire!

[Makenzie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for perseverance and hard work
Could be anticipatory set for a math lesson

[Nanny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story based on a true event.