The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis illustrated by S.D.Schindler
Published by Orchard Books in 2003
Re-published by Scholastic in 2008
If you want a good laugh, if your kids need a giggle, read The Runaway Pumpkin aloud to them. But you’d better practice in front of the bathroom mirror a couple of times first.
The rhyme is cute and silly.
The rhythm mimics a rolly-polly pumpkin bouncing down a bumpety hill.
The hyperboles are hilarious.
The illustrations bring the silliness to a climax.
In short, The Runaway Pumpkin is a fun fall read. My grandchildren memorized the repeated refrain last fall.
‘Round and ‘round
across the ground
makin’ a thumpin’
bumpin’ sound
came that
thumpety
bumpety
thumpin’
bumpin’
round and roll-y
RUNAWAY PUMPKIN!
If you have young kids or grandkids you’ll want to add this book to your collection. If you don’t have the kids you might want to donate a copy to a local school media center the next time they hold a Scholastic Book Fair.
Ahh! Welcome, autumn.