BUT I'M A PUMPKIN!

A case of mistaken identity sprouts playfully in this colorful concoction.

A seed prepares to become a pumpkin—and, eventually, a jack-o’-lantern. He thinks Halloweeny thoughts and dreams autumnal dreams. Happily nestled into the dirt, he’s surrounded by other seeds, soil-nourishing earthworms, and itty-bitty ants. He’s cared for by a light-skinned, freckle-faced girl who wears her black hair in pigtails, a gentle echo of Wednesday Addams, and the transformation from seed to sprout to blossom to squash begins. But that’s when things get off course—try as our hero might, he can’t turn orange. He’s green as can be and stripey to boot. When the little green guy is picked off the vine prematurely for a Labor Day picnic, his young gardener protests at first but then pivots. Even if her favorite pumpkin is a watermelon (as her father not-so-surprisingly declares), he can still be a jack-o’-lantern! Thus begins a Summerween tradition, observed by the girl, her racially diverse group of friends, and her favorite, extra-special pumpkin. Delighting in Halloween symbols and autumnal energy, Choppy and Moreno’s lighthearted story visually highlights the holiday’s cutest aspects. Candy corn, goofy little ghosts, silly costumes, and snuggly moonlit nights glow invitingly in the bright, bouncy illustrations.

A fun, friendly reminder to celebrate the things we love whenever we like.