Duck wants to surprise Pig and Mouse with a Halloween jack-o'-lantern, but when Duck suddenly disappears and a giant pumpkin monster appears, Pig and Mouse run for their lives, in a delightfully silly, holiday read-aloud from the creator of What Will Fat Cat Sit On? - (Baker & Taylor)

When Duck decides to make a jack-o-lantern, he and his friends Pig and Mouse are in for a scary adventure. - (Baker & Taylor)

Did that pumpkin just quack?

Booklist Reviews

This is a typical Thomas tale, and fortunately so. With a shiny, chartreuse and azure color palette; thickly outlined, simple shapes; and quick, word-bubble dialogue, she tells the spare, silly story of the crazy confusion that commences when Duck creates a jack-o'-lantern to surprise his friends, Pig and Mouse. After taking a tumble and falling into the hollow squash, trapped Duck ends up frightening his friends: "Argghhh! It's a PUMPKIN MONSTER!!" A chase ensues until all three are saved from the trouble they were never really in, and Duck makes another jack-o'-lantern to celebrate, setting the stage for history to repeat itself. With well-paced, slapstick action and opportunities for children to practice making predictions, this story features characters who can hold their own beside the cast of any Mo Willems early reader. A terrific Halloween read-aloud. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

"This will be GREAT!" exclaims Duck when he finds a pumpkin. He excitedly begins carving a jack-o'-lantern but lands himself in trouble when he falls headfirst into the hollowed-out gourd. Pig and Mouse assume that their pumpkin-covered friend stumbling about is a "Pumpkin Monster," and utter panic ensues. Thomas's expressive, boldly colored illustrations will delight preschoolers--as will the clever ending.

Kirkus Reviews

Thomas is back with another slapstick adventure featuring Duck, Mouse and Pig (The Doghouse, 2008; A Birthday for Cow, 2008).

Duck finds a pumpkin and begins turning it into a jack-o'-lantern. In the process, Duck tumbles inside and ends up with the pumpkin stuck on his head. Duck tries to get help from Pig and Mouse, but they mistake him for a "PUMPKIN MONSTER!" Now Duck thinks there is a Pumpkin Monster and begins running. Mouse and Pig in turn believe the monster is chasing them, and they "Quick! Hide behind the barn!" Duck cannot see where he is going and runs into the barn, smashing the pumpkin to pieces. Mouse and Pig emerge from their hiding place and proclaim, "LOOK! Duck battled the Pumpkin Monster and WON!" Duck is confused but pleased with himself and decides to celebrate by making a jack-o'-lantern. The last page shows poor Duck—can you guess?—stuck inside his carved pumpkin with Mouse and Pig wondering where Duck is. Bright cartoon illustrations coupled with white speech balloons effectively tell this slight, silly tale of one mishap leading to another and another, but this lacks the manic energy of Thomas' other outings.

In the crowded field of Halloween picture books, this unfortunately falls flat. (Picture book. 2-4)

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Thomas sticks to her forte—bright, bold artwork and comically harebrained protagonists—in this slapstick Halloween outing. When Duck leans too far over the pumpkin he's preparing to carve and gets stuck inside, the result is a walking, talking, web-footed Pumpkin Monster that scares Mouse, Pig—and Duck. Over-the-top humor and adorably oblivious characters should inspire repeat readings. Ages 2–5. (Aug.)

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-K—Duck happens upon a pumpkin and decides to turn it into a jack-o'-lantern to surprise Pig and Mouse. He falls into the pumpkin, gets it stuck on his head, and goes in search of his friends to help him extricate himself. When he finds them, they think he is a pumpkin monster and run away. Duck crashes into the barn, smashing the pumpkin and leading his pals to believe that he has vanquished the monster. Duck makes a second jack-o'-lantern to celebrate and again ends up trapped inside. The plot is thin and the writing pedestrian. The computer-generated illustrations are flat and uninteresting. With so many wonderful stories featuring pumpkins, this one is a marginal purchase.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ