Presents a history of pumpkins, how they are grown, their nutritional value, and recipes using pumpkin. - (Baker & Taylor)

Did you know pumpkins have been around for 11,000 years? Or that the biggest pumpkin on record weighed over 1,300 pounds? Learn all about pumpkins—where they come from, how to grow them, and more—in this informative book that's guaranteed to squash the competition. Recipes, fun facts, and resources round out the text. - (Random House, Inc.)

Jaqueline Farmer is the author of APPLES, PUMPKINS, and VALENTINE BE MINE, among other books for young readers. She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

Gr. 1-3. The pumpkin plant is introduced here, including its anatomy, growth cycle, and historical importance. There are also directions for carving a pumpkin and recipes for making a pie and toasting the seeds. Tildes' appealing pencil drawings, brightened with watercolor washes, depict a multicultural group of cheerful children as they enjoy these and other activities. The closing pages list pumpkin superlatives, words for pumpkin in a dozen countries, and recommended books and Web sites. Farmer does a good job of selecting pertinent information and presenting it in a manner children will find interesting. With a fine balance of information and activities, this colorful book provides good support for primary-grade units on pumpkins. ((Reviewed August 2004)) Copyright 2004 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

In this helpful book, the history, growing, uses, related legends (such as the origin of the name "jack-'o-lantern"), and carving of pumpkins are laid out in an easy-to-read and thoughtfully illustrated format. The author includes recipes, websites, a reading list, pumpkin facts, and how to say [cf2]pumpkin[cf1] in twelve languages. Copyright 2005 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

School Library Journal Reviews

K-Gr 3-In a conversational style, Farmer relates facts, history, legend, and growing tips about one of the favorite fruits of fall. In addition to the de rigueur instructions on pumpkin carving (and safety) and seed toasting, the author includes the word for the berry in other languages, a brief list of pumpkin world records, and recommended readings and Web sites. The serviceable watercolor-and-pencil illustrations feature a multicultural cast of bright-eyed, slightly stiff young children; the art is surrounded by plenty of white space. More detailed than Gail Gibbons's The Pumpkin Book (Holiday, 1999) and less poetic than George Levenson's Pumpkin Circle (Tricycle, 2004), this holiday patch of pumpkin facts will find a place in collections looking for material for Halloween and harvest time.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.