- The Bumpy Little Pumpkin
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I have to be honest. I am not a big fan of Halloween—the actual day with the trick or treating and all that. One of my daughters has tremendous angst over costume selection and changes her mind 5 thousand times every year. I did manage to talk her out of going as a taco this year. Not that I had any personal objections to dressing as a Mexican food staple and her father thought it was a hoot; I just knew in my heart of hearts that when it came time for the school parade, she was not going to be happy with that choice. My other daughter is a complete and total ‘fraidy cat so we are constantly on the look-out for scary masks and decorations in the weeks leading up to the big day. She forces herself to trick or treat even though her stress level as we walk around the neighborhood is sky high because she’s convinced there are ghosts, witches and goblins around every corner—which could conceivably be true I guess.
I am, however, a huge fan of pumpkins. I love the color—I love all the different shapes—I like how they feel like Fall even when here in California it’s 100 degrees and going anywhere near a pumpkin patch right now would be like going through Dante’s ninth circle of Hell.
So here in the icy quiet of my air conditioned house, I can pull out all the old Halloween books from the shelves and enjoy them comfortably and hopefully things will cool off before it’s time for the annual visit to the patch.
One of our favorites is THE BUMPY LITTLE PUMPKIN by Margery Cuyler. This sweet story tells the tale of Little Nell and her Mama and her BIG sisters who spend all Summer tending to their BIG garden and their BIG pumpkin patch. Finally Halloween rolls around, and Little Nell—despite pressure and teasing from her BIG sisters—chooses a small, lumpy, funny looking pumpkin from the patch while they choose the BIG smooth, round, perfect looking pumpkins. They tell her that her pumpkin is bumpy and ugly and tell her they won’t help her carve unless she chooses another. Little Nell is sad but true to her little runty pumpkin, and decides to carve it herself. Her animal friends help her carve a sweet face on her unusual pumpkin with their antlers and beaks, and of course her wonderful and understanding mama assures her that her pumpkin is beautiful and that “jack-o-lanterns come in all shapes and sizes.”
Cuyler uses lots of repetition and simple language to tell this charming and satisfying story. Little Nell is both sweet and tough. She believes in herself and in the beauty of her bumpy little pumpkin even though her sisters are telling her something different. With some help from her friends, she is able to carve her own pumpkin—the pumpkin she chose and the one she believed was beautiful and perfect for her.
Will Hillenbrand’s illustrations are beautiful and almost cartoonish in their appeal. The story is both empowering and reassuring. Cuyler subtly demonstrates the power of the individual and the strength of friendship. By the end of the story, Little Nell knows that not only do jack-o-lanterns come in all shapes and sizes—but children do too. And perfect isn’t always best. Sometimes beauty lies in the imperfection and true strength in the unusual.
Hmm, maybe we should revisit the taco costume….
Weekly Opinion
- FEATHERING OUR NESTS: O-MAMA’s Perspective on SPRING CLEANING
Spring is in the air. The birds and the bees are flitting around doing their thing…nature abounds. The birds are feathering their nests and laying their eggs, while the bees are busy pollinating every flower in the garden. The air is crisp and clean. Chirping and buzzing fills the air.
Everything seems fresh and new. So, let’s take a new look at Spring, shall we? The first thing that comes to mind is cleaning. Ugggh. But, let's talk about the birds and the bees instead...the part of the story that happens...
- Read the full article
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