Pumpkin Town! Or, Nothing Is Better and Worse Than Pumpkins
What’s inside...
The perfect book for fall! What happens when a town has an accidental abundance of pumpkins? What do José and his well-intentioned brothers do with a mountain of pumpkins? An EXPLOSION of pumpkins? Step into Pumpkin Town and see! As a teacher, Katie McKy saw many children make mistakes. She also saw many children want to make their wrongs right. As a gardener, Katie once planted too many pumpkin seeds. She learned that a good thing can be a bad thing when the vines start to grow every which way.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the characters in Pumpkin Town learned about growing pumpkins? How can too much of a good thing sometimes cause problems?
How did the people in the town solve the problem with the pumpkins? What would you have done in their situation?
How do the characters show teamwork and community spirit? Why is it important to work together?
How do changes affect the characters and their town? How do you deal with changes in your own life?
Can you think of a time when you helped solve a problem? How did it make you feel?
Tip: Role play these questions
As you read 'Pumpkin Town!' with your child, emphasize the humor and exaggeration in the story to keep the conversation light and engaging. Encourage your child to imagine their own solutions to the pumpkin problem, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Discuss the importance of community and teamwork, linking it to familiar situations in your child’s life. Use the illustrations in the book to guide further discussion on the characters' emotions and actions. Finally, relate the book’s themes to your child’s experiences to enhance personal connections and understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'Pumpkin Town! Or, Nothing Is Better and Worse Than Pumpkins,' the characters unintentionally spread pumpkin seeds, leading to an overabundance of pumpkins. This situation teaches the importance of understanding the consequences of one's actions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to think about the outcomes of their actions, such as cleaning up after playing or being careful about where they put their things.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving
Explanation: The characters in the book face a challenge when their town is overrun with pumpkins. They come together to develop creative solutions to manage the surplus.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to think creatively in solving problems, whether it’s figuring out how to share toys or finding ways to help around the house.
Example Lesson: Community Cooperation
Explanation: The story highlights how the entire community comes together to tackle the pumpkin problem, demonstrating the power of collaborative effort.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of teamwork and helping each other in communal spaces such as school or family gatherings.
Example Lesson: Environmental Awareness
Explanation: The proliferation of pumpkins in the story showcases the effects that human actions can have on the environment, intended or not.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be mindful of their environment, teaching them to take care of their surroundings and be aware of the impact they can have on nature.
Example Lesson: Adaptability
Explanation: As the characters adjust to their new, pumpkin-filled environment, they exhibit adaptability, an important trait for overcoming unexpected challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to adapt to changes, such as moving to a new school or dealing with alterations in daily routines, fostering resilience.