This is a story about a field and a man who loved it enough to do something to save it from development. “Based on the author’s personal efforts to protect the land, this story broadcasts a deliberate and timely environmental message that, like the intentionally nameless protagonist, anyone can make a difference. Aglow in harvest tones, Root’s strong watercolor and gouache paintings heighten the story’s magic.”--Booklist
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Human industriousness saves the day-and the land-in this ecological cautionary tale. When a man discovers that the beloved field across the way is for sale, he goes to great lengths to protect it from developers. When selling all his possessions fails to yield sufficient cash, the man plants a huge patch of pumpkins in the plot. The bountiful harvest enables him to purchase the field, and to keep it in its natural state. Ray's text puts forth a noble premise and a pleasing ending, but its logic makes a slight misstep when it ventures into the fantastic: the man decides to send the pumpkins-via truck, plane and magic carpet-all over the world for sale, rather than completing the transactions closer to home. The author's underlying sense of urgency effectively demonstrates the importance of conservation, and may even have a motivational effect on readers. Root's watereolor and gouache paintings emit a predominantly orange glow, and the expanse of the scenes clearly renders the field and its crop as the true stars here. The gentle play of light and shadow on the horizon lends a becoming sense of serenity. Even the Great Pumpkin himself would be pleased. All ages.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
MARY LYN RAY has written many books for children, including Pumpkins, illustrated by Barry Root, and Red Rubber Boot Day and Mud, both illustrated by Lauren Stringer. She lives in South Danbury, New Hampshire.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Mary Lyn Ray's "Pumpkins: A Story for a field" tells the story of a man's love affair with the open field across from his house. When he sees a "for sale" sign he cries and then decides to take action. After consulting the field, the man decides to grow pumpkins, which he then sends - via boats, planes, trucks and flying carpets - around the world. In Kartoum, Cairo, and Tashkent people buy the round, orange, bumpy pumpkins and then start carving jack-of-lanterns, eating pumpkin ice cream and making pumpkin muffins.
The beautiful illustrations and sweet, funny story captivated, me, my husband's middle school age students, and our 1.5 year old son. Without being preachy or mushy, this book is a wonderful story about land conservation in the real world.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Liza
Format:Hardcover
I am lucky enough to be able to see Ms. Ray and thumb through her books at the Concord Farmers Market each weekend. She is a lovely, magical lady and this is a lovely, magical book! I cried when I first read it and it still makes me weepy because it shows such love and hope. (I am a grownup.) It is also very witty and it SOUNDS good out loud, so parents won't get tired of reading it over and over to the children. Everyone should have a chance to read and re-read Pumpkins, any time of year (it's not a Halloween book, really). Several local conservation organizations carry this book because it demonstrates (in a technically unrealistic way, but that really doesn't matter) how one person can make a big difference. I can't imagine anyone not being touched and amused by this book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This sweet book captivates younger readers with its wonderful painting illustrations, and the simple story of one man's determination. I love the spare, simple text full of evocative details (when he needs to write explanatory tags for every pumpkin he ships to countries that don't have pumpkins, "luckily he knew how to write in many languages"). This is one of those that I get a lump in my throat reading even after who knows how many times through it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
I just did not like it
Man sells most of what he has to buy a field, grow punkins on it, sell pumpkins to everyone in the world, uses the income to fully pay off field purchase and re-buy some of the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rebecca K. Holmes
5.0 out of 5 stars
A meaningful fall book
I have read this book to my class each year. My book is so old, it has yellowed. Now that I'm retired I read it to any class I substitute teach in the fall. Read more
Published 17 months ago by TWhite
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teach Economics with this book!
Our 5th grade uses this book to review and demonstrate real uses of economics terms we've learned. Kids have a worksheet with simple definitions of terms and the following columns. Read more
Published on October 30, 2004 by J. Schaeffer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lucky find...
My son's (4 1/2) current enthrallment is pumpkins--he loves the book Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night. So when we found this book at the library the other day he was happy to sit and... Read more
Published on June 8, 2004 by Addison Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book for third graders
I use this book each year to teach my class about different countries and means of travel. I made up math related questions for small group work that includes estimating how many... Read more
Published on October 20, 2002 by Missy Nichols
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