The Great Pumpkin Scare
on Goodreads (6)
What’s inside...
In a spooky little town, in front of a spooky little house, sits a young jack-o-lantern named Bob. Bob is unhappy with his appearance and is running out of time to fulfill his biggest dream before Halloween ends. His dream is to scare just one kid.
Discussion points
Why do you think the characters were scared of the Great Pumpkin at first?
How did the characters' feelings about the Great Pumpkin change throughout the story?
What would you do if you encountered something unknown like the Great Pumpkin?
Can you think of a time when you were scared of something but realized later it wasn't scary?
How did the characters work together to overcome their fear?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts by reassuring them there are no right or wrong answers.
Relate the story to your child’s personal experiences to make the discussion more meaningful.
Ask your child to draw a scene where the characters are interacting with the Great Pumpkin, and discuss their drawing.
Praise your child for their insights, which helps boost their confidence in expressing themselves.
Use expressive reading techniques, such as changing your tone and volume, to make the story more engaging and to emphasize key moments that could spark discussion.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage in facing fears
Explanation: In 'The Great Pumpkin Scare', the protagonist overcomes their initial fear of the spooky pumpkin patch to discover the fun and joy in new experiences.
Real-World Application: Children learn that facing their fears, even if they seem daunting at first, can lead to exciting and rewarding outcomes. This encourages them to tackle new challenges in school or social settings.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters work together to solve the mystery of the Great Pumpkin, illustrating that cooperation can lead to success.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of collaborating with others, whether it's working on group projects at school or playing team sports.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The characters in the book use their imagination to create an adventurous game around the pumpkin patch, turning a scary situation into a creative play.
Real-World Application: It encourages children to use their imagination in play and problem solving, enhancing their creative thinking skills which are essential in academic and personal growth.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: As the characters plan their adventure, they also learn to take responsibility for their actions and ensure that their game is safe and inclusive.
Real-World Application: This promotes the idea of being responsible in day-to-day activities and being mindful of the wellbeing of others around them.
Example Lesson: Dealing with disappointments
Explanation: The book addresses moments when things don’t go as planned during the adventure, teaching kids to manage disappointment and adapt.
Real-World Application: Children learn resilience and flexibility, important traits for handling the ups and downs of life gracefully and effectively.