By Rosanna Battigelli & Tara Anderson
A rhyming Halloween romp with a family of cozy cats
Pumpkin orange, pumpkin round / Pumpkin hiding, pumpkin found!
What could be better than an autumn trip to the pumpkin patch with a cast of cat characters ready to celebrate Halloween? In bouncy rhyme, the folksy felines choose their pumpkins, wheel them home, and work together through all the steps of carving a jack-o-lantern. With the lanterns’ spooky and cheerful faces shining bright, now is the time to dress up and head out for trick-or-treating.
Tara Anderson, the award-winning illustrator of Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That, depicts cozy and charming fall scenes in Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round. Infectious rhymes by debut children’s author Rosanna Battigelli will make this a favorite in any season.
Praise for Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round
2020 Bank Street Best Book selection
2019 School Library Journal “Zombies and Skeletons and Vampires, Oh My! | 10 Picks for Elementary Readers” roundup selection
2021 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection
“The rear endpapers give directions for carving a jack-o’-lantern, adults doing all the cutting after kids have drawn the facial features. Cozy, repetitious autumn fun for toddlers and younger preschoolers.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Cats enjoy all the glories of a human Halloween in this peek at popular October traditions….Battigelli’s text—a series of rhyming, two-word phrases each beginning with ‘pumpkin’—…possesses a jaunty rhythm and a fun-to-pronounce quality.”—Publishers Weekly
“[T]he repetition and simplicity of the text make this an appealing choice for group-sharing during storytime. The art, created with colored pencil and acrylic glaze on watercolor paper, is warm and fuzzy, providing a safe, not-so-scary depiction of Halloween that is appropriate for young listeners….A safe bet for libraries looking for autumnal and Halloween-themed picture books for the youngest patrons.”—School Library Journal
“Rating E…The simplicity of the text is brought to life by the perfect pairing of Tara Anderson’s warm, cosy and childlike illustration style….Whimsical and energetic, the furry friends pop off the pages reeling in the reader to join in the fun! Easy to read yet lively, Battigelli’s Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round guides us around the clock from daytime to evening transforming an orange pumpkin to something aglow! Don’t forget the ‘How to Carve a Jack-o-Lantern’ how-to guide in the back inside cover!”—Resource Links
“The collaborative work of author Rosanna Battigelli and illustrator Tara Anderson, Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round will prove to be a unique and appreciated addition to the Halloween reading lists of children ages 3-6.”—Midwest Book Review
“A fun, simple, festive book that families will love. Highly Recommended.”—CM Magazine
“Rating: 5…This is a sweet rhyming story about all the festivities that lead up Halloween night….This book is perfect for ages three to five.”—Youth Services Book Review
“Catchy rhyming verses…[and] vibrant illustrations….Early readers and preschoolers will enjoy this one as they get ready for trick-or-treating.”—Winnipeg Free Press
“Follow the cutest cast of kitty’s in this simple rhyming book as they visit a pumpkin patch, carve & decorate their pumpkins, head out for a night of trick-or-treating, and end the night with snuggles and a good book. Sounds like the perfect Halloween to me!”—Little Book Worm Club
