ALA Booklist (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Short, rhyming lines of text describe how a dog, who starts out alone, begins planting pumpkins. Each step in the growing process is described, including digging, feeding, weeding, watering, and so on, making this story a good choice for fall STEAM storytimes. As the pumpkins start to fill out, other animals become interested. In a reverse Little Red Hen situation, each of them wants to help. The farmer dog wears a bandana, gloves, and boots, but the other animals are not dressed. A crow, rabbit, goose, goat, and mouse all join in to care for the plants. They act more like actual animals, but they all are able to communicate with each other. Eventually, it is harvest time, and the plot of ground has proved fertile. Piling the pumpkins into a cart, the goat delivers them back to the dog's kitchen. The whole group happily makes pies and then carves non-scary jack-o'-lanterns. The animals' gentle expressions and the softly glowing gouache illustrations keep the story perfectly pitched for preschoolers.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

In early spring, a farmer (pictured as a Border Collie bearing a passing resemblance to Wolff's Miss Bindergarten) plants a pumpkin patch. Determined to protect and nurture the crop, the farmer enlists the help of curious onlookers: "You want to help a pumpkin grow?" One by one, a crow, rabbit, goose, and goat join in the endeavor, until in the autumn there are plentiful pumpkins to harvest, make pies from (one pie for each animal), and turn into jack-o'-lanterns. "Now we have made our pumpkins...GLOW!" With a jaunty, rhyming text; lush, expressive, acrylic gouache illustrations; a theme celebrating growing things and the spirit of cooperation -- and the added bonus of a little mouse to find on every spread. Martha V. Parravano

Kirkus Reviews

An anthropomorphic dog and his animal friends tend pumpkins from seed to table.It's spring on the farm, and a border collie dons boots and gloves to dig the garden and sow pumpkin seeds. As the story progresses and the dog works the pumpkin patch, would-be plant and seed eaters, like a crow, rabbit, and goat, instead take part in garden care. While Halloween isn't mentioned by name, the animal group (which also includes a mouse and goose) carves jack-o'-lanterns after baking and eating some pumpkin pies. Wolff's illustrations include lovely, subtle details. The spring buds on a nearby tree blossom into a deeper pink with the turn of a page, contrasting poignantly with a surprise flurry. Empty seed packets are placed on stakes in the garden to denote the different cultivars, autumn arrives with a fall of berries from the once-blossoming tree, and the warm glow of sunset signals both a job well done and a book near its end. The mouse that graces the cover is cleverly hidden throughout the story, not always obvious but always present. These illustrative grace notes make for an enjoyable reread. The rhyming text follows a predictable pattern and cadence, which hits just right for little listeners and for an effective read-aloud. Readers will delight in the animals' proud smiles as the book meets a satisfying end. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A rhythmic seasonal read-aloud with rich, detailed illustrations. (Picture book. 2-5)

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

An anthropomorphic, farm-dwelling dog is an eager pumpkin gardener in this rhyming picture book by Wolff. -Dig it./ Spade it./ Seeds to sow.// Keep seeds warm,/ Protect from snow./ I want to help a pumpkin grow,- the book begins in staccato rhythm. The bandana-wearing dog soon realizes that a seemingly hungry crow merely wants to assist. -You want to help a pumpkin grow?- becomes the refrain, as the dog recruits new animal friends-the crow, a rabbit, duck, and goat-and their diligence helps the pumpkins flourish. Wolff-s richly colored, opaquely textured art, rendered in acrylic gouache, showcases the animals- cooperation: the rabbit eats weeds, the crow holds the hose in its beak, and more. Set in a farmyard world in which levels of anthropomorphism vary (the dog wears accessories and stands upright while the unclothed goat pulls a cart on four legs), this welcoming tale serves as warm encouragement for collaboration. Ages 4-8. (July)

School Library Journal (Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Toddler-PreS Pumpkin tales abound, but Wolff's contribution to the harvest is sweet and welcome. An anthropomorphized pup begins planting pumpkins early in the year. As the seasons progress, animal friends join in the work and, ultimately, share in the pie and jack-o'-lantern rewards. The gouache illustrations are vibrant and cheerful, using generous line weight and soft edges to emphasize the agrarian feel. The brief, rhyming text is ideal for sharing aloud. Observant readers will notice many fun details in the spreads, including a helpful little mouse who appears in almost every scene. Children will also observe that only the dog possesses human traits, wearing clothes and wielding opposable thumbs, while the other animals are less anthropomorphic. VERDICT This sweet book is a general purchase for libraries where pumpkin-related fare is in high demand. Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR