Pumpkin Moonshine [Hardcover]

Tasha Tudor (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

It's almost Halloween and little Sylvie Ann has found the biggest, fattest pumpkin. But before she can carve it into a giant, crooked-toothed pumpkin moonshine (or jack-o'Iantern), she has to get it home.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Halloween is coming, and Sylvie Ann wants to make a pumpkin moonshine (or jack-o'-lantern), so she sets out across her Grandmummy and Grandpawp's cornfields to find "the very finest and largest pumpkin." Once she finds it, the problem is how to get it home. This fine, large pumpkin is so big, Sylvie Ann can't carry it. So she rolls it across the field, like a snowball in winter, until she reaches the edge of the field where the ground slopes down. And suddenly, the pumpkin begins running away down the hill! Can Sylvie catch it before it frightens the goats, terrifies the hens, enrages the geese, and bumps into Mr. Hemmelskamp who is carrying a pail full of whitewash?

Those who don't know the denouement to this more than 60-year-old classic by two-time Caldecott Honor artist Tasha Tudor will not be surprised to find a happy ending to this exquisite, gentle story. Tudor's delicate orange-framed watercolors of a rural autumn and a bonneted little girl speak to a softer side of Halloween--one that is not overtaken by werewolves, blood, and gore, but is a reminder of the season in all its fresh abundance. Tasha Tudor has over 90 books to her credit, including The Dolls' Christmas and Caldecott Honor book, 1 Is One. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

About the Author

Tasha Tudor is a Caldecott artist with more than ninety books to her credit. She is known across the world for her glowing watercolor decpictions of the American rural scene of a century ago and for her exquisite paintings of children, flowers, and animals. Tasha Tudor is also the illustrator of A Child's Garden of Verses, The Night Before Christmas, The Springs of Joy, A Time to Keep, The Dolls' Christmas, All for Love, Pumpkin Moonshine, A Tale for Easter, A is for Annabelle, and 1 is One, a Caldecott Honor Book. She lives in Vermont.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689828462
• ISBN-13: 978-0689828461
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Halloween

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, old-fashioned story, August 29, 2000

By 

Mark Savary "moon_city" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pumpkin Moonshine (Hardcover)

"Pumpkin Moonshine" is one of the first Halloween stories I can remember finding in my grade school library. The story is very, very simple, with beautiful artwork, which is probably why it was so captivating.

In the story, a little girl decides to make a "pumpkin moonshine," an old-fashioned term for what we call a Jack-o-Lantern. The girl finds a suitable pumpkin, but it rolls away down the hill, and havoc ensues!

A very nice touch is the artwork on the first letter of a word on each page. Tiny drawings weave their way around the capital letter, and subtly enhance the story.

One of Tasha Tudor's earliest published works, with her signature art style, this is book a real charmer. If you have pre-school or Grade 1-2 kids, both you and they will enjoy the story of the "Pumpkin Moonshine!"

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pumpkin Moonshine - 60 years later!, October 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Pumpkin Moonshine (Hardcover)

If you've never carved a "Pumpkin Moonshine" you've missed a wonderful part of Halloween. As a little girl, Tasha Tudors delightful story was a favorite of mine. My children grew up carving pumpkins, not into jack-o-lanterns, but into Pumpkin Moonshines. The "grands" now enjoy grandmothers love for the season and the wonderful "Pumpkin Moonshine" with the re-release of this beautiful little book to be loved by all.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids will love this non frightening Halloween book., July 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pumpkin Moonshine (Hardcover)

My mother read this book to me as a child. It was out of print for a while, but this new printing is excellent. The illustrations (same as orginal version) are superb and the text is quaint but clever enough to keep the attention of small kids or new readers. Highly recommended for Halloween or year round.