Big Pumpkin
What’s inside...
A witch grows a huge pumpkin to make pumpkin pie but struggles to harvest it. Different characters come along, each trying their strength to move the pumpkin but fail. Finally, they work together successfully to move the pumpkin, illustrating the moral of the story that teamwork can achieve what even the greatest strength cannot. In a separate story, a little bat uses brains over brawn in this not-so-scary Halloween picture book. The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to make herself a pumpkin pie for Halloween. But the pumpkin is so big she can't get it off the vine. It’s so big the ghost can’t move it, either. Neither can the vampire, nor the mummy. It looks as if there’ll be no pumpkin pie for Halloween, until along comes the bat with an idea to save the day. How can the tiny bat succeed where bigger and strong spooky creatures have failed? You'll be surprised!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-5
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think the witch wanted to grow such a big pumpkin?
How did the characters work together to solve the problem of the big pumpkin?
What would you do if you had a pumpkin that was too big to move?
What did you learn about sharing and teamwork from this story?
How do you think the story would change if there was no magic spell?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the importance of working together by discussing each character's role in moving the pumpkin.
Ask your child to imagine and describe what they would make with a giant pumpkin.
Highlight the theme of problem-solving by asking your child to think of different ways the characters could have solved their problem.
Reinforce the message of teamwork by planning a family activity where everyone needs to cooperate to achieve a common goal, just like in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: In 'Big Pumpkin', various characters struggle individually to release the pumpkin but only succeed when they work together.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of cooperating and combining efforts to achieve common goals, which is crucial in group activities at school or in sports.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The characters in the story each propose different ideas to free the pumpkin, teaching that there are multiple ways to approach and solve a problem.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think creatively and try diverse solutions when faced with challenges, whether in their academic tasks or personal issues.
Example Lesson: The Value of Persistence
Explanation: Despite initial failures, the characters keep trying until they finally succeed, showing that persistence pays off.
Real-World Application: Kids learn the importance of continuing to try even when things are difficult, a valuable trait for educational pursuits and personal growth.
Example Lesson: Sharing and Generosity
Explanation: Once the pumpkin is freed, the characters share it, emphasizing the joy and benefits of sharing.
Real-World Application: It underlines the significance of sharing with others, which can help in nurturing friendships and building community bonds.