Book Review: Into the Pumpkin

Into the Pumpkin

By Linda Franklin

Hardcover, 56 pages

Published August 31st 2012

By: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.

ISBN: 9780764341830

Book source:

4 Pumpkins

What Goodreads has to say: The fun of Halloween comes alive in this beautifully illustrated children’s book. The drawings, done each year by the author on the eve of Halloween, follow various “Halloween” characters as they prepare to celebrate this mystical holiday — pumpkins, witches, bats, ravens, black cats, scarecrows, spiders, ghosts, and more. Should they have their party in the graveyard or the pumpkin patch? Should they dress up or simply go as themselves? Take a ride on the witch’s broom and enter the pumpkin for a magical trip both you and your kids will not soon forget. Pre-K through 6th.

Marisa's Review: I love the art in this book! It is abstract yet obvious and has so many warm autumn colors, even the spider is cute (yes you read that right). The story itself is really cute and has a good poetic rhythm to it allowing you to get through it quickly.

For a child who is in grade 1 or so you could really turn it into a sing-song type book and have them memorize it. If you are using this book in the classroom, be it home school or public school you could easily have your child pick one of the beautiful pieces of art to make for Halloween decorations while learning about art techniques. I normally wouldn’t recommend this, however my children studied Matisse in grade 1 and each student did a piece of art copying one by Matisse.

If you are opposed to Halloween then I think it is fairly obvious to not purchase this book because it does talk about ghosts and skeletons and witches and the other “Pagan” things we love about Halloween. 

That said, it is in no way a scary book and I recommend it for kids of all ages as the pictures are interesting to my old eyes and the words are very sweet and easy to read. I can see a lot of potential for this book depending on how you choose to use it.

About the Author:  Linda Franklin is an award-winning artist whose work is widely exhibited in private collections throughout the United States. She is also a celebrated teacher who has launched many aspiring artists onto careers of their own.