Full Text Review(s)
* "The Rabbit Family, who had so much fun in Apples! Apples! Apples! (2000), now spends a day picking, eating, and carving pumpkins. The day starts with pumpkin pancakes, and then it's off to the pumpkin farm. Mrs. Bell, the owner, takes the family on a tour, pointing out the different types of pumpkins and explaining how they grow and get their color. The day ends with more fun and food as the pumpkins become jack-o-lanterns, the seeds are baked, and pumpkin muffins complete the dinner. Although there are many other books on the topic, this one stands apart because of its simple, yet dynamic collage artwork and the quality and quantity of information that is tucked into the text in all sorts of interesting ways. Signposts in the pumpkin field offer factoids, riddles, and miniquizzes. Small square pictures grouped on a page lead children through the life cycles of the pumpkin. There are also recipes with rebus-like touches that make directions easier for children. The origami-and-paper collages placed against pure backgrounds are the best Wallace has done to date, and that's saying something. The spreads-whether showing the family at a pumpkin stand or a pumpkinseed growing into a vine-will fascinate and charm kids."

"One fall day, a rabbit family visits Pumpkin Hollow Farm to select pumpkins for cooking, decorating, and carving. Facts and riddles appear on signs scattered throughout the stand. Mrs. Bell, who works there, keeps pictures in her pocket that demonstrate how the gourds grow, and she shows them to the curious bunnies. Later, back at home, the family carves jack-o'-lanterns before enjoying a supper of 'pumpkin muffins, toasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on salad, and for dessert, pumpkin pie!' Recipes appear on lined, illustrated cards. The characters, created from cut-paper collages and placed on colorful backgrounds, are eye-catching and endearing. Children will love poring over the details and absorbing the information that has been expertly woven into the artwork. A superb blending of fiction and nonfiction."