Pattan's Pumpkin: An Indian Flood Story
not part of a series
What’s inside...
Pattan's Pumpkin is a retelling of a traditional tale from the Irular tribe in Southern India. The story revolves around Pattan who discovers a wilting yellow-flower vine in his valley. He replants and nurtures it, watching as it transforms into a pumpkin that grows larger than the goats, elephants, and even the mountains. When a catastrophic flood threatens the valley, Pattan uses the enormous pumpkin to save his family, animals, seeds, grains, and saplings, drawing parallels to the biblical story of Noah's Ark. The narrative is complemented by Frane Lessac's vibrant illustrations and serves as a fascinating example of the unique variations of traditional flood myths told around the world.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Pattan
Kanni
Discussion points
Why do you think Pattan chose a pumpkin to save his village?
How did the animals and the people in the story help each other during the flood?
What would you do if you were in Pattan’s situation?
How did you feel when the pumpkin grew big enough to house everyone?
What do you think this story teaches us about nature and taking care of each other?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine alternative solutions to Pattan’s problem and discuss the pros and cons of each.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene from the book, then describe why they chose it.
Relate the flood scenario in the book to real-life situations, discussing the importance of community and teamwork in overcoming challenges.
After reading, explore together more information about the traditional flood stories from different cultures and discuss their similarities and differences.
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the storytelling more engaging and ask your child to mimic or create voices for their favorite characters.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness and Problem-Solving
Explanation: Pattan demonstrates resourcefulness by cultivating a giant pumpkin and using it as a boat to rescue his family and animals from a flood.
Real-World Application: Children learn to think creatively and find unconventional solutions to problems they encounter in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Community Support
Explanation: Pattan's story emphasizes the importance of working together and supporting one another during challenging times, as he and his community come together to survive the flood.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of cooperation and helping others within their family, school, or community.
Example Lesson: Resilience and Adaptability
Explanation: The protagonist, Pattan, displays resilience by adapting to a severe situation and finding innovative ways to deal with adversity.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to remain positive and flexible, adapting to changes and bouncing back from difficult situations.
Example Lesson: Caring for Nature
Explanation: Pattan appreciates and nurtures the natural resources around him, which ultimately saves his community.
Real-World Application: This highlights the importance of environmental stewardship, encouraging children to care for and protect the natural world around them.