Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman (1992, Illustrated, Reinforced Hardcover)

"Big Pumpkin" by Erica Silverman is a funny Halloween story that will delight children in preschool, kindergarten and first grade. A witch wants to make pumpkin pie, so she plants a pumpkin seed. The pumpkin grows so big that the witch cannot yank it from the vine. Some traditional Halloween characters come to help, but neither the ghost, nor the vampire, nor the mummy can make it budge. Finally a bat comes up with a good idea. They line up and pull together. Off comes the big pumpkin. The colorful illustrations by S.D. Schindler is a little spooky but not scary. With predictable rhyming texts, the picture book is good for reading aloud. Kids can also see the value of cooperation and teamwork.

One of my favorite children's books! This book is fun with great repetitious rhyming and accumulative text. The illustrations are beautiful. If you have an opportunity to listen to the cassette that goes with the book-that is a real treat! The characters come alive with song and music. A wonderfully fun halloween story for kids and adults!