My thoughts on Halloween have varied over the years but I have always been in on the pumpkins. Even though, in my late 30s, I've still never carved one. There is just something so festive about a bunch of pumpkins sitting on the front and back steps that makes me happy and feeling fall festive. I also appreciate the color orange, especially in the fall, and like how orange contrasts with blue (the color of our house) so the color combination is especially delightful.
Pumpkin books can also range from mid-September through Thanksgiving, depending on how "Halloween-y" they are which makes them more versatile than the books we only read the month of October (some of these are still Halloween based but not all!). I really enjoy our Halloween book collection but there is something nice to have ones that last a bit longer than those!
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Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White, illustrated Megan Lloyd
Rebecca Estelle HATED pumpkins, hated them. She had a lovely garden but then some pumpkins accidentally get planted and ended up taking over her yard. Now she still hates pumpkins but has to deal with a whole lot of them.
Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
The fall companion to the popular Pick a Pine Tree by the same author and illustrator. Lovely verses about picking out a pumpkin, having a carving party, eating good food, putting on costumes and trick or treating with friends. This is one I'd like to buy.
We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk, illustrated by Angie Rozelaar
This has been a big favorite in our house this year, one of the earliest Halloween books we got from the library and it's been in heavy rotation since. A take on the classic "We're going on a bear hunt" except this is Halloween and they encounter (gently) creepy things along the way.
The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
This is a FANTASTIC book for the transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving. This Pumpkin is feeling very left out, nobody wanted to pick him (he should have befriended Stumpkin) and he can't quite figure out where he fits in. Year round at our house, whenever anyone says "Oh my gosh!" the automatic response is "I'm a squash!" thanks to this book.
The Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Diane Arnold, illustrated by Brad Sneed
This is based on a true story of an older gentleman who ran a real long distance race in Australia in the 1980s maybe? This older man only eats pumpkins and pumpkin dishes and is putting all these younger, more traditionally trained runners to shame. (This still won't convince me to eat pumpkin.)
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
A classroom lesson about counting the seeds in a pumpkin (that sounds like a lot of counting) and not underestimating people OR pumpkins. I actually learned something from this!
The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin by Stan & Jan Berenstain
We love Berenstain Bears year round and this is another great transition book from Halloween to Thanksgiving. The Bears, mainly Papa, are trying to grow the biggest pumpkin in Bear Country for the annual contest. They don't win but there are still things to be thankful for!
Runaway Pumpkins by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Luke rode a school bus (driven by my Dad!) to the pumpkin patch in kindergarten and it was especially memorable so we enjoyed this story of kids riding the bus to a pumpkin patch and how they all pick their pumpkin. EXCEPT the chosen pumpkins go rogue until the neighbors bring them back, in different forms!, for the party.
Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli, illustrated by Tim Zeltner
Do you know what can be scary? Pumpkins. Do you know what pretty definitely is never scary? Pumpkin seeds. And this little pumpkin seed just wants to scary SOMETHING.
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