Customer Reviews

Somethin' Pumpkin

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Somethin' Pumpkin," the first book from incredibly talented illustrator Jimmy Pickering, is a quirky delight for all ages. Full of ghosts, witches, monsters and, of course, pumpkins, this is not only a fun read for Halloween, but a book that will keep kids (and anyone else for that matter) happily reading and viewing the delightfully fanciful illustrations for months after.

The true wonder of "Somethin' Pumpkin" (and the key that will be sure to make this book a Children's Best Seller in no time!) is the illustrations Pickering brings to life on the pages. Rich in texture and saturated color, full of imagination and whimsey, it's quick to see how this illustrator is going to go places.

Rare is the children's book that, when you pick it up, you immediately want to look at it again. Rarer is a children's book that's also a delight for adults. Even rarer still is a children's book that makes you want to buy the toy (they don't exist -- yet!) and see the Halloween cartoon special (again, not yet!) simply when you open the book. Pickering's work puts all these thought into your mind immediately, and his playful images stay with you.

Buy this book! It's not just for Halloween... or kids!

I am utterly charmed. No, really I am. This is a gem of little clever rhymes and very clever illustrations to accompany the words. Each word and each brush stroke must have worked in perfect harmony to make this book. It arrived just in time for Halloween and has already been read to the children around here. They loved the made-up words and creatures!
We'll go to the pumpkin patch this year to see all of our new friends and bring home an extra one or two, just in case we need to make some perfect pumpkin falafel! Somehow we'll think differently of the ones who may be a little squashed on one side or misshapen on another - maybe they are just back from their squashastic aptitude test.
Somethin' Pumpkin is just perfect for little ones, but it is clever enough to keep the grown-ups entertained. Although I am tempted to put this book away at the end of pumpkin season - I think I'll keep it out and recite the rhymes and make faces for a little longer...

Somethin' Pumpkin has great pictures and the rhyme is great fun. I shared it with my little sisters and then used it as a read aloud with a larger group. It was fantastic. Lots of laughter and lots of conversation about the things you can do with a pumpkin. Halloween anticipation! I think this is a book that works for very young children up to about 10 years old, because it is simple enough for the very young, with recognizable Halloween imagery, and yet the language and design is captivating enough for an older audience. (I liked it for myself, too!)

I simply want to say, this is an awesome book for kids and adults! Jimmy Pickering's illustrations are deep and brilliant, wacky and bizarre. They have the artistic beauty of David Weisner, combined with a Dr. Seuss-like silliness that I haven't seen in a children's book for years. Scott Allen's words also bear a similarity to Seuss, with outlandish rhymes and goofy characters that kids will remember long enough to want to read this book to their kids, when they grow up. The quality of the book is so nice (printed in Italy, on super-nice paper, with beautiful, intense inks), you will want a copy to keep on the shelf, as well as a copy for the kids to destroy.

Fantastic book.
The writing is fun, whimsical and current.
The illustrations are fantastic. Even the smallest one of just a simple pumpkin has so much to it. I ordered one for myself and then ordered several more foor my niece and my friend's kids. There is something in this book for kids from age 1 to 100. I hope that the author and artist do many more in the years to come!

Somethin' Pumpkin is a spectacular book. After reading the other reviews, I had to participate in the praise of Somethin' Pumpkin.

I ordered Somethin' Pumpkin for myself and then quickly ordered more to give friends and family as gifts once I recieved my copy.

This book is filled with the most compelling and completely amazing illustrations I have seen in a childeren's book is years. Jimmy Pickering's first book is something to be collected and he is definitely an illustrator to watch. I can hardly wait to see what his future books bring to us if "Somethin' Pumpkin" is any example of what to expect.

To follow suite with one of the other reviews on this site, I too cannot wait to buy toys based on the characters in this book. (Please someone read this and approach the artist to make them soon!)

I never thought I would say a book based on pumpkins is not just for Halloween, but Somethin' Pumpkin is more than your basic Halloween book. With an amazing cast of characters from robots to space aliens, whitches to mummy's, Somethin' Pumpkin is fantastic both for its illustration and its clever writing. It is a beautiful book.

Somethin' Pumpkin is a must for anyone who has children or just loves children's books. This one is going to be a hit and the start of "somethin'" big for illustrator Jimmy Pickering!

I bought the book because I love the Illustration style of Jimmy Pickering. Great book!

Black cats transform a boat from a pumpkin, spiders make apartments, and robots fuel their brains with pumpkins. Without a doubt, the writing is fresh and clever. Scott Allen invents words like "squashastic" and makes use of the eccentric in a big way. He rhymes the text, and in most instances, it's brilliant. The end product is exceptionally humorous, and the illustrations are extraordinary; however, I think the author overreaches a bit.

For example, when talking of witches, one creates, "...a cauldron colossal, the other a perfect pumpkin falafel." Huh? What's a falafel? I had to look it up. It's a meatball made from ground-spiced chickpeas. This book is geared to 4 and up, so why not use something like a waffle? It rhymes with colossal, and kids can identify with a waffle.

The colors are rich and vibrant, and the texture and shadowing in these ultramodern images is wonderful. Pickering layers the paint to build intense color and shadow, and the details urge readers to study the images. There's no question that this is cutting-edge artwork, yet the artist has no trouble making the clouds mist and swell graciously.

If you don't mind illuminating, pick up this book. The artwork alone is worth every penny.

Cute book. Looks like it was illustarted by Lane Smith only with brighter colors.