Now that fall is here, it’s time for us to engage in some fun (and educational) books about our favorite time of year… pumpkin season! These pumpkin books for kids are engaging and sure to be a hit with your children also!
The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders
Marla’s giant pumpkin is rolling away! She chases it all through town trying to catch it, and she has some help along the way! My favorite part about this story is that it has repetitive phrases and sentences, which are great for early readers and really keep kids engaged in the story.
Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson
This picture book uses real photographs to show a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch move through its life cycle. This book really dives into pumpkins and gives close up pictures of everything, which is so engaging for kids. It is a perfect companion to pumpkin carving or further pumpkin exploration!
The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Kimball Moulton
Pete finds a lonely pumpkin in the field and takes it to care for it. The pumpkin grows and Pete thinks it is the best pumpkin of all-he doesn’t want to give it up! A young girl shows up at the farm looking for the perfect pumpkin. Will Pete give his up and make a new friend? I love stories that depict kindness and friendship, and this story does that with a fun, seasonal theme.
The Run-Away Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
I love rhyming books, and this book delivers! A gigantic pumpkin is on the loose after 3 children try to push it through town to show it off. Now they can’t contain it! This is a fun story that keeps kids engaged and wondering what will happen next.
The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin by Sonali Fry
I love twists on classic tales and songs, and this book is just that! With a Halloween twist on “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” this story is fun and catchy as a little pumpkin tries to find his way back home.
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll
Desmond and Clayton are two mice that most students are familiar with, as we read other books in their series throughout the year. In this book, both mice want a pumpkin to win contests. However, they realize, it is the same pumpkin that they want! What are friends to do?
Goodnight Pumpkin by Sharlene Alexander
Another twist on a classic, this book is in the style of “Goodnight Moon.” With rhyming text and vivid pictures, this book quickly captures the attention of young readers.
The Littlest Pumpkin by R.A. Herman
The littlest pumpkin has big dreams for Halloween. She would love to be taken home and made into a jack-o-lantern, but no one has picked her yet! The days are passing and she is still at the farm, sad and thinking no one will ever choose her. However, there is a happy ending to this tale! My students get really into this story, and they feel for the pumpkin and are wanting her to get chosen so badly! After this story, don’t be surprised if your children want to pick out a pumpkin that maybe “looks lonely.”
Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean
Kids absolutely love Pete the Cat! In this story, Pete is rocking out to his own Halloween version of “5 Little Pumpkins.” Anything with Pete is a hit in my classroom!
Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie by Jill Esbaum
This National Geographic book for kids has beautiful photographs taking you through the lifecycle of a pumpkin, and a fantastic journey through fall as well.
The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
In this twist on “The Ugly Duckling,” a lonely pumpkin leaves the patch in search of somewhere that he will fit in. It seems no one wants him, but what will happen when Thanksgiving arrives? The illustrations and rhyme stand out in this story, and the message that we are all different (and that is a good thing) is one I like to read about with my children.
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
This is a perfect book to read before you carve a pumpkin! This book works with skip counting and estimation as the kids in Mr. Tiffin’s room try to figure out just how many seeds are in a pumpkin! They are surprised when they discover the the pumpkin with the most seeds was actually the smallest one! I love books that incorporate a math concept or reinforce counting, and this one is a hit!
