Big Pumpkin

by Erica Silverman, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

Overview

A little bat uses brains over brawn in this not-so-scary Halloween picture book.

The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to make herself a pumpkin pie for Halloween. But the pumpkin is so big she can't get it off the vine.

It’s so big the ghost can’t move it, either. Neither can the vampire, nor the mummy. It looks as if there’ll be no pumpkin pie for Halloween, until along comes the bat with an idea to save the day.

How can the tiny bat succeed where bigger and strong spooky creatures have failed? You'll be surprised!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780027826838
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	08/31/1992
Edition description:	Repackage
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	372,454
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD420L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Erica Silverman is the author of several books including Big Pumpkin; When the Chickens Went on Strike, which was a Sydney Taylor Honor book; and Sholom’s Treasure, which won the Sydney Taylor Award and was a runner-up for the National Jewish Book Award. Her books have received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, the California Young Reader Medal, ABA Pick of the List, and the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Visit her at EricaSilverman.com.

S. D. Schindler is the popular and versatile illustrator of many books for children, including Ursula K. Le Guin’s Catwings series; Skeleton Hiccups and Monster Mess!, both by Margery Cuyler; Big Pumpkin and the ALA Notable Children’s Book Don’t Fidget a Feather!, both by Erica Silverman; How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky; and Johnny Appleseed by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benét. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His website is SDSchindlerBooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

A rhythmic text and a vibrant palette combine in a Halloween tale noteworthy for its finely tuned balance of drama and comedy. A green-faced witch, with pickle-shaped nose and chin, decides to mark the holiday by baking a pumpkin pie. But the pumpkin she's planted is stuck on the vine. A gallery of graveyard ghouls comes to her aid--first a translucent white ghost, then a smartly dressed vampire, a tightly bound mummy and, finally, a bat with a bright idea. Their breezy conversations create a pleasantly sinister mood that stops just short of being scary. Accordingly, in Schindler's hands the cast looks not so much spooky as spirited. The eye-catching full-spread illustrations, in rich hues of orange and blue, capture the midnight magic, while dropped-out type adds an extra dash of mystery. A fine combination of fright and fun. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-- A rollicking, amusing Halloween tale. Based on the Russian folktale ``The Turnip,'' it's the cumulative tale of a witch who plants a pumpkin seed in anticipation of a Halloween pie. When the pumpkin grows too large, however, she finds she needs the help of some fitting wanderers: ghost, vampire, mummy, and a little bat. Some nice lessons are learned: the need for help from others, the joy of sharing, and that everyone--no matter what size-- has something to offer. The text is rhythmic and repetitive, making it a surefire success for story hours or read-alouds. Schindler's richly colored illustrations lend humor and give a lively feeling to the characters and plot, helping to make the story nonthreatening for the youngest of readers. The book starts with a large border, and the pictures and the pumpkin grow as large as the page. Rousing good fun for the Halloween season and far beyond. --Elizabeth Hanson, Chicago Pub . Lib .

School Library Journal

With pie on her mind, a witch goes to her garden to pick a special pumpkin off the vine. But she's watered and weeded it a bit too well--the gigantic pumpkin won't be budged. A ghost comes along and offers his help, as does a vampire, and a mummy, but all their tugging is to no avail. Then a bat flutters up, and the others laugh, for what can such a little thing do? The bat has an idea, though: they will all pull together. The pumpkin is liberated, and the ghoulies are soon enjoying pie. A take-off on other stories where giant vegetables (notably turnips) are pulled from the ground, this one will have special appeal because of its Halloween theme. Silverman's use of repetition is slightly overdone, but the rhythmic word patterns will still be pleasing to kids. Artwork, heavy both in shape and color, is a good choice for this nighttime adventure. A treat for story hours.

Ilene Cooper