Pick a Pumpkin

"This charming picture book is sure to get readers into the Halloween spirit. . . . A crowd-pleaser, perfect for home snuggling and group storytimes alike.”—Booklist (starred review)

Pairing a wonderfully rhythmic read-aloud text with expressive retro illustrations, the creators of Pick a Pine Tree here capture all the excitement and familial feeling of a favorite holiday tradition. Readers will be happy to follow along, from picking out the perfect specimen at the pumpkin patch (be sure to stop for cider and toffee apples) to carting it home, scooping out the insides, carving a scary face, and finally lighting a candle inside—savoring the familiar ritual of transforming an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind glowing jack-o’-lantern.The nearly flawless rhythm of the text is a pleasure to read and will likely become a favorite...Enchanting.
—Kirkus Reviews

This upbeat picture book traces the process of turning pumpkins into Halloween jack-o’-lanterns...A dramatic penultimate double-page spread reveals a glowing, grinning jack-o’-lantern in all its glory; a final spread shows the kids dressed in their costumes, heading out into a festively decorated neighborhood for trick-or-treat. “Happy Halloween, everyone!”
—The Horn BookPatricia Toht is the author of Pick a Pine Tree and many other children's books. She once owned a children’s bookshop called Never Never Land before turning a love of books into a love of writing. Patricia Toht lives in Chicago.

Jarvis is the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree. He is also an animator who has worked as both a record jacket designer and an animation director. The author-illustrator of Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth; Mrs. Mole, I'm Home!; and Tropical Jerry, Jarvis lives in Manchester, England.