A Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Linda Ludke is a children’s librarian at the London Public Library.

Engaging photos document a school trip to a pumpkin patch. Under the
tutelage of Farmer Doreen, the young students learn about the different
varieties of pumpkins and gourds, the parts of the plants, and how they
grow. Their guide also shows them the “biggest fruit on earth”—the
Atlantic Giant pumpkin. Nine additional “pumpkin facts” are
highlighted; readers may be surprised to learn that “pumpkin
chunking” is a sport, and that people once believed pumpkins could get
rid of freckles. Easy-to-read endnotes also provide information on the
pollination of pumpkin flowers and on the tradition of carving pumpkins.


Adam Krawesky’s action shots capture the diverse group of children
exploring all the autumnal delights of the farm: riding on a
tractor-pulled wagon, picking pumpkins, and playing in bales of hay.
Clear photos of a little girl and her mother making a jack-o’-lantern
and roasting pumpkin seeds complement the basic, step-by-step
instructions. Highly recommended.