During the “Pumpkin Patch” story time I think it is essential to use a non-fiction book to aid in the learning. Most of the children know that a pumpkin is grown in a pumpkin patch. Most have even visisted a pumpkin patch at one time or another. But, by the time they ususally arrive the pumpkin is full grown and ready to be picked so introducing the book “The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden” by George Levenson photographs by Shmuel Thaler is great.

I find it some what of a challenge to find non-fiction books that you can use during a read aloud. Usually, it is not at all a question of quality but of size. I sadly don’t have enough time to read the larger books (nor do my pre-school friends necessarily want to sit that long). “The Pumpkin Circle” is the perfect size and so perfectly written for the pre-school learner. Then you add the crisp, large photos and you have a captivating real life story.

We start with a seed. The group looks at the photo of a bright orange glove holding this little seed. We recall pulling these little seeds out of the goopy mess while making a jack-o-lantern. Or we remember eating them warm and toasty from the oven. But, the farmer plants the little seed. The children pretend they are little seeds and I am the farmer pushing them carefully into the ground. I then ask my friends that are now seeds what they need to grow. Sure enough, as the story tells us, they need sun and water and time. We again act this out. The kid’s absolutely love to be watered. Even though they know the water can is empty, the flinch just slightly and giggle as I come around. Now the farmer must wait. We talk about how hard it is to wait. The children show me what they do when they have to wait- lots of eye rolling! We watch the farmer wait. This is my favorite photo as you see the farmer stretched out on a lawn chair arms relaxed behind his head.

The seed does grow though. But much to our surprise every things is green. No orange to be seen. The children comment that it looks just like vines. Bees travel to pollunate. And the farmer waits patiently. Then, finally a bud appears. Slowly, slowly the pumpkin becomes ready for harvest.

The story does not end there, though. The farmer carves the pumpkin into a great jack-o-lantern, lights it, and places outside in the dead of the night under a bright moon. The children love this dramatic full page picture. There are gasps as this little seed as fully transformed into the ultimate Halloween symbol.

Much to the children’s surprise, the story still doesn’t end there. Now the pumpkin begins to decay. This is usually not a pleasant thing to discuss. We don’t like to think of our dear pumpkins rotting away. It reminds me of Frosty the snowman. Who likes the part of the story when he begins to melt? However, the children identify with the pictures as they see the pumpkin “smooshing” into the ground. “That happened to my pumpkin!”, “It stunk real bad!” I hear.

But, wait, what is that? Could it be another pumpkin seed? It sure is. The story ends right where it began: a little pumpkin seed starting out on a long journey.

Only two more days until Halloween!!

Jenn, Imagination Celebrations