The Runaway Pumpkin

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.