Kirkus Reviews

Geisert, known for his intricate etchings that often feature profusions of pigs, here turns to pumpkins, offering a meditation on the effects of one astonishingly fertile runaway pumpkin on a small Iowa town. It all begins when a pumpkin is washed away from a farm to a small island in the middle of a river near a bridge. It breaks; its seeds sprout; vines soon stretch from the island to downtown via that bridge. In a sequence of expansive double-page spreads, Geisert depicts the overrunning of Main Street by the pumpkin's progeny, the orange gourds improbably popping up everywhere. "People did fun things with the pumpkins. Sometimes, even dangerous things." People throw pumpkins, do acrobatics and dance with them. And of course they build medieval siege weapons. Ultimately, after a gentle pumpkin chaos reigns for several page turns, the townspeople (all seemingly white) carve them into jack-o-lanterns and range them all up and down Main Street, their faces glowing long into the night. Geisert's spreads offer readers detail upon whimsical detail, including a witch who walks calmly about and much rooftop tomfoolery. The text and art are occasionally out of sync, and, truthfully, there isn't much plot—but there are many pumpkins to count. Readers captivated by the understated silliness of the premise may find themselves imagining what their own neighborhoods might look like under similar circumstances. (Picture book. 5-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In an enigmatic seasonal story with threads of the magical, a rising river washes away a pumpkin, whose seeds sprout on a small island. As the vines grow, the pumpkins become ubiquitous in the streets of Elkader, Iowa. After many pumpkin desserts, townsfolk convert the gourds into boats and houses. Just as the pumpkins -became such a problem that people started carting them away to the abandoned stone quarry,- Halloween arrives. In a dramatic spread, night has fallen over the town, and the faces of the many jack-o--lantern faces glow hauntingly. While the pumpkins may be gone for the season, Geisert suggests with a final flowering tendril, vines rarely keep to themselves. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2019)

PreS-Gr 2 A terrible storm pours rain on the town of Elkader, Iowa, and the surrounding areas. Upriver, a lone pumpkin washes into the river and lands in pieces on the shore of Elkader. Because the soil is so rich, pumpkins begin to grow everywhere. Embracing their situation, the townspeople decide to have fun with the pumpkins. They decorate and cook with them. But there are so many pumpkins that the townspeople have to cart them away to the quarry. The pumpkins are ground up and made into mulch. The next year, the flowers are spectacular. Beautiful illustrations done in a classic style accompany this whimsical story that will delight both parents and children. The vibrant colors and playful actions of the characters lend the otherwise old-fashioned tale a decidedly modern feel. VERDICT This lovely, optimistic story will delight readers and is sure to become a staple for fall collections. Nicole Detter-Smith, Homestead High School, IN