Pick a Pumpkin - by Patricia Toht

About the Book

"One of the most loved Halloween traditions is visiting a pumpkin patch and picking out the perfect pumpkin. Once you bring your pumpkin home, invite your friends and family to form a carving crew and help you turn that perfect pumpkin into--a grinning, glowing jack-o'-lantern. With vibrant, joyful art and a rhythmic, read-aloud text filled with the spirit of community and the thrills of the season, here is a celebration of every fun-filled step in creating the perfect jack-o'-lantern on Halloween night"--Book jacket.

Book Synopsis

The creators of Pick a Pine Tree are back with a joyful, energetic celebration of a Halloween tradition.

Pick a pumpkin from the patch. Tall and lean or short and fat. Vivid orange, ghostly white, or speckled green, might be just right.

Pairing a wonderfully rhythmic read-aloud text with expressive retro illustrations, author Patricia Toht and illustrator Jarvis capture all the excitement and familial feeling of a favorite holiday tradition. Readers will be happy to follow along with each step, from picking out the perfect specimen at the pumpkin patch (be sure to stop for cider and toffee apples) to carting it home, scooping out the insides, carving a scary face, and finally lighting a candle inside -- savoring the familiar ritual of transforming an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind glowing jack-o'-lantern.

Review Quotes

The nearly flawless rhythm of the text is a pleasure to read and will likely become a favorite...Enchanting.
--Kirkus Reviews

This upbeat picture book traces the process of turning pumpkins into Halloween jack-o'-lanterns...A dramatic penultimate double-page spread reveals a glowing, grinning jack-o'-lantern in all its glory; a final spread shows the kids dressed in their costumes, heading out into a festively decorated neighborhood for trick-or-treat. "Happy Halloween, everyone!"
--The Horn Book

About the Author

Patricia Toht is the author of Pick a Pine Tree and many other children's books. She once owned a children's bookshop called Never Never Land before turning a love of books into a love of writing. Patricia Toht lives in Atascadero, CA.

Jarvis is the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree. He is also an animator who has worked as both a record jacket designer and an animation director. The author-illustrator of Alan's Big, Scary Teeth; Mrs. Mole, I'm Home!; and Tropical Jerry, Jarvis lives in Manchester, England.