The Pumpkin Fair Book & Cassette [Paperback]

Eve Bunting (Author), Eileen Christelow (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A bouncy rhyme and delightful artwork bring this pumpkin fair to life. The young narrator is ecstatic to be at the local pumpkin fair, where pumpkins of every size are on display - and that's not all! There's pumpkin bowling, a pumpkin pull, and every sort of food you can imagine made from the orange stuff, from ice cream to stew. . . . Christelow's good-natured watercolor-and-ink illustrations are filled with things to look at and laugh about, including a marching band in pumpkin suits. Keep this book around to read for autumn story hours - but you might want a piece of pumpkin pie when you're done. - ALA Booklist"Christelow's jubilant illustrations in watercolor and pen and ink add to the general atmosphere of gaiety - everywhere readers look, families are interacting happily and having fun. . . . Halloween is never mentioned, so the book could be used to celebrate the harvest season in general. Of course, it will also serve as a good non-scary Halloween story." - School Library Jo

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2. This story in rhyme celebrates a small town's "Pumpkin Fair," complete with a Pumpkin Princess and Peter Pumpkin Band. Everyone comes to carve pumpkins; bowl pumpkins; spit pumpkin seeds; juggle pumpkins; make pumpkin creatures; and eat pumpkin stew, cake, pie, ice cream, and cookies. The young narrator brings her very own pet pumpkin to the festivities and winds up with two ribbons for the "best-loved pumpkin at the fair. The best-loved pumpkin anywhere!" Christelow's jubilant illustrations in watercolor and pen and ink add to the general atmosphere of gaiety?everywhere readers look, families are interacting happily and having fun. According to a sign, it is October 28th, and many of the children in the pictures are wearing costumes, but Halloween is never mentioned, so the book could be used to celebrate the harvest season in general. Of course, it will also serve as a good non-scary Halloween story.?Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

The reason for this determinedly jolly book seems to be to provide educators with a fall title that invokes autumn harvest themes and even jack-o'-lanterns--yet it never mentions Halloween. It's a bland book from Bunting (I Am the Mummy Heb- Nefert, p. 550, etc.), without her usual bite and wit: ``I'm going to the Pumpkin Fair./Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!/`These ones here were grown from seed--/Yes sir, yes sir, yes indeed!' '' The girl who narrates and her family attend a quaint, small-town festival, where there is pumpkin-bowling, pumpkin- basketball, pumpkin-carving, seed-spitting, decoration, food, and her prize for ``best-loved pumpkin anywhere.'' It's a family day, with children and pets everywhere and a band dressed as pumpkins. Bunting has done just about everything she can to celebrate the pumpkin, but why? Christelow valiantly trudges along, mustering as many pumpkin-related scenes as she can and stuffing them with comic characters and events, but even she begins to flag near the end. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Pap/Cas edition (August 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618644792
• ISBN-13: 978-0618644797
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,418,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pumpkins don't need bite or Halloween to be charming!, October 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pumpkin Fair (Hardcover)

As a grower of giant pumpkins, I take exception to the professional review which dings this book for not having enough "bite" and (heavens!) not even mentioning Halloween. Pumpkins are fun and so is this book. There is something inherently charming about a small town pumpkin festival, and this one has a distinctly New England look to it that reminds me of when we used to live in New Hampshire. This celebration of a simple fruit, with fun for your pre-school and early grade school children is fun to read aloud, without succombing to the modern cultural prerequisite for a witch with a wart on nose. The writing does get a bit sing-song in places, but quite tolerable to my adult ear overall. Enjoy some good clean autumn fun and read this to your kids. God bless!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for Emergent Readers!, August 8, 2010

By 

ReadingTeacher - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pumpkin Fair (Paperback)

My granddaughter wanted books about fairs and the library suggested this one with several others. Pumpkin Fair is her favorite and we read it everyday she is with me. We even rechecked it from the library. I am now ordering a copy for her. Her mom was so amazed when Kaylee "read" the book to me on a trip. Great Book!

5.0 out of 5 stars A very sweet book!, November 2, 2009

By 

L. Schillinger (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Pumpkin Fair (Paperback)

I origninally borrowed this book from the library for my son. I loved it so much, I ordered from Amazon to have a copy for my house.
The story and writing are simple enough for a preschooler to understand the humor.
This is one of the sweetest books. The little girl is is darling and innocent. The book makes me want to have my own Pumpkin Fair.