The Very Unusual Pumpkin

“Singer and Shleifer spin a charismatic story-within-a-story in which collaborative narration yields a pumpkin-led fairy tale. Multimedia illustrations with velvet-textured coloring embrace a black light–like effect for scenes depicting the pumpkin’s arc. The result is a kindhearted chronicle that infuses the pale-skinned duo’s creativity-fueled connection with enchantment.”—Publishers Weekly

“Singer’s comical offering is more than the tale of an oddly shaped pumpkin; it is a story about storytelling. Lulu finds her grandmother’s improvised bedtime yarn about an ugly pumpkin uninspiring, so Lulu decides to help Grandma tell better stories. Through insightful questions, prompts, and critiques, Lulu helps Grandma lengthen and improve the story until its pumpkin transforms into a girl who grows up to be a fairy godmother who, in turn, grants the wishes of pumpkins everywhere. This fictional girl also happens to grow up to be a grandmother who grants her granddaughter’s wish to be told stories every night. Bright, whimsical illustrations match the quirkiness of the text. The pumpkins and people alike have expressive eyes, and the pumpkin theme carries through in Lulu and Grandma’s vibrant orange hair. The dark page background used for the pumpkin tale allows its details to stand out and creates a marked contrast with Lulu’s colorful bedroom. In the end, this joint storytelling project brings Lulu and Grandma even closer together.” —Booklist

“Singer’s story is a cute play on imagination and collaborative creation. Rather than Lulu interrupting Grandma to tell her what to say, her questions prompt Grandma to take different directions with her tale on her own. Readers will enjoy the endearing relationship between the two characters, particularly the ending that reveals Lulu now considers her grandmother a fairy godmother of storytelling. Some may consider the book funny, some may find it surprising, but all will agree with the final exclamation that the story is ‘unusual!’ Shleifer’s artwork was created with acrylic, watercolor, paint markers, colored pencils, and wax crayons, and is the star of the story. Her style brings to life the unique nature of the tale with soft lines and vibrant colors. Using white space against black backdrops and many dots in pink, purple, orange, and green, Shleifer plays with the relationship between the world of imagination and reality. Her expressive faces and whimsical design make this a great fit for fans of fairy tales. This book will surely be a wonderful read for those who enjoy ‘very unusual’ stories.”—Youth Services Book Review

“Charming illustrations with this very late 90’s kindergarten teacher feel to them (I mean that in the best possible way! It’s so fun and sweet and nostalgic! !), and a sweet and playful story reminiscent of Telling Stories Wrong by Gianni Rodari. A perfect fall/halloween read for the sensitive kids who don’t like creepy stories.“—First Light Books, Austin, TX (Edelweiss review)

“Heartwarming and creative, this story reminds us all that the act of weaving a narrative is a joyous, and communal one!“—Booked in Evanston, IL (Edelweiss review)

“Lulu knows that her grandma has the potential to tell her some good stories, but she needs to help her out with the details about the life and times of a very unusual pumpkin. Certainly vibrant and creative, as well as adorable.“—Ridgecrest Books, Seattle, WA (Edelweiss review)

“Love that the grandma learns how to tell better stories through this adorable picture book.”—A Novel Escape, Franklin, NC (Edelweiss review)

Winner of the 2015 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry, as well as numerous other honors, Marilyn Singer is the author of more than 120 books for children and young adults, including Mirror Mirror, I’m the Big One Now!, and six picture books about Tallulah, a young ballet student. She likes to challenge herself by writing on many topics in many genres. Marilyn lives in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, CT with her husband, who’s also her favorite dance partner, and several pets.

Maya Shleifer is an illustrator, author, and designer who loves creating stories that bring laughter and joy to children. She has illustrated over 20 picture books, many of which have been translated and published internationally, reaching children in many countries. Her work has received international recognition and several awards.

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