Review by Booklist Review
Ages 5-9. Just in time for fall storytelling is this fact-inspired fantasy revolving around that plump symbol of autumn--the pumpkin. When a "For Sale" sign appears in the vacant field across from his home, a man sells most of his possessions to buy the field and save it from developers. Still short of money, he talks to the field, and together they agree to grow pumpkins--hundreds of thousands of pumpkins--which the man decides to sell for one dollar apiece. Packing his goods onto hundreds of trucks, boats, planes, and even flying carpets, the (fortuitously multilingual) entrepreneur attaches a note to each pumpkin promoting its diverse uses for jack-o'-lanterns, pies, muffins, etc., and then ships them to the far corners of the world. His enterprise is successful; he buys the field and relishes its natural beauty forevermore. 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, which begs to be extended further by locating the exotic foreign lands where the pumpkins are sent; by carving, baking, and sampling pumpkin creations; or even by growing a pumpkin from seed. For pumpkin projects, see Gillis' In a Pumpkin Shell, reviewed in this issue. ~--Ellen Mandel
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
Upset because the field across from his house is for sale, a man decides to save it from development by buying it himself. He doesn't have the resources, however, so he grows and sells pumpkins to raise the funds. Root's watercolor and gouache illustrations are decidedly realistic in flavor, even as they employ deadpan humor when the plot veers into fantasy. From HORN BOOK 1992, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
