Pumpkin Jack

August 4, 2003

When a boy's carved pumpkin starts to rot, he places it in the garden and tends to it so that the next autumn yields pumpkins for everyone; PW
called this a "wholesome post-holiday story offers hope to kids who can't bear to throw away their jack-o'-lanterns." Ages 5-8.

August 24, 2000
PreS-Gr 3-A simple, appealing selection for storytimes. When Tim carves his first pumpkin, he names it Jack. When it finally begins to decay, he puts it in the garden rather than in the trash bin. As the months go by, Jack grows moldy, sinks into the leaves, hides in the snow, and finally sprouts a new plant. By the next fall, there are plenty of pumpkins for Tim to share at school. He keeps just one for himself and when he finishes carving it, he says "Welcome back, Jack!" The plant's cycle throughout the seasons is told in a satisfying, straightforward fashion. Hubbell uses colored pencils with solvent wash effects to create vibrant double-page spreads that bring the story to life. These pictures complement the text, which flows nicely with its own descriptive details. Readers can hear the crinkle of old leaves, smell the earthy odors of the garden, and breathe in the crisp air of the first frosty day of autumn. Any child who has had to throw away a beloved jack-o'-lantern will appreciate this fine offering.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2000
Ages 4-7. Tim loves the jack-o'-lantern he has carved, and he keeps it long after Halloween. When it begins to rot, he lays it in the garden, where it decomposes all winter. In the spring, a sprout appears. Jack waters and weeds the plant until fall, when he harvests the pumpkins, gives them to his friends, and carves a new jack-o'-lantern for himself. Satisfying and surprisingly varied in approach and perspective, Hubbell's colored pencil drawings illustrate the simple story in a series of well-imagined scenes that focus both on Tim and on the many stages of his pumpkin plant. The narrative flows along naturally with the progression of the pumpkin through the seasons. One of the best fictional picture books to follow the cycle of a plant, this would be a good choice for reading aloud. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)