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Spookley the Square Pumpkin : Colors & Numbers
It’s two fun books in one, hosted by the irresistible square pumpkin, Spookley! All kids have to do to go from Colors to Numbers and back again is flip over the board book. What they’ll find inside are cheerful, entertaining lessons in rhyme, filled with a patch of smiling pumpkins in a variety of shapes.
Numbers takes young counters from one single Spookley waving hello to a group of ten pumpkin pals. The charming Colors showcases a rainbow of pumpkins, including a little one that’s red and fat, a silly pumpkin that’s blue and flat, and a happy fellow that’s bright yellow and tall.
Numbers takes young counters from one single Spookley waving hello to a group of ten pumpkin pals. The charming Colors showcases a rainbow of pumpkins, including a little one that’s red and fat, a silly pumpkin that’s blue and flat, and a happy fellow that’s bright yellow and tall.
22 pages, Board Book
First published August 28, 2006
6 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 18, 2025
I was today years old when I found out the best book from my childhood has a SEQUEL.
But I want to know why they changed my favorite pumpkin to look like that creeper moon emoji. You know this one: 🌚
Then I came across the real heartbreak and disappointment when I read it and discovered that this just ignored the entire plot of the first book 😟
Spookly DOES have a family, and he was not the only square pumpkin- because in the end of the first one, the farmer grew more like him!
Halt the lies omg 😱
I still vibe with this though.
But I want to know why they changed my favorite pumpkin to look like that creeper moon emoji. You know this one: 🌚
Then I came across the real heartbreak and disappointment when I read it and discovered that this just ignored the entire plot of the first book 😟
Spookly DOES have a family, and he was not the only square pumpkin- because in the end of the first one, the farmer grew more like him!
Halt the lies omg 😱
I still vibe with this though.
October 11, 2019
What a weird book. I have so many questions... mostly about what isn't included in this story.
Apparently, we're introduced to Spookley in another book. He's square, for some reason (he apparently grew that way, but from what I understand about growing square foods, some sort of mold is involved). Anyway, he thinks that he has nothing to celebrate at Thanksgiving because he doesn't have a family. (I don't know why he's not part of the pumpkin family; maybe that's explained in another book.) He wanders (yeah... the pumpkin wanders) through the fields of food crops, and each asks him to join them. But he keeps wandering until he leaves the field, and is then "lost". So he freaks out, and the rest of the foods relay the message back to the scarecrow, who comes and rescues him from... the edge of the field. Then he realizes he has lots of friends, and therefore something to be thankful for.
I still can't get past the square pumpkin (what's the deal?), but as I was reading this book about pumpkins and potatoes and corn and peas in the lead-up to Thanksgiving, I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Why are all of these foods looking forward to a celebration where they're going to be eaten?! Actually, that part was kind of a disappointment. Because they don't. Get eaten, that is. The story just sort of ends, with no mention of the fact that all of those crops are Thanksgiving foods. Even Spookley himself is at risk of being made into a pumpkin pie. It could've been a funny take on the story... but, unfortunately, the author chose not to go there. Instead, all we have is a whiny, inexplicably square pumpkin who's prone to panic attacks and pity parties.
The overall message is decent (i.e., your friends can function as your family, too) and the pictures are fairly cute. But now I can't stop thinking about what might've happened after the last page. Was there some sort of massacre? Did Spookley have his brains scooped out? Are all the characters currently being digested in people's stomachs?
I think I need to stop reading so much into some of these stories...
Apparently, we're introduced to Spookley in another book. He's square, for some reason (he apparently grew that way, but from what I understand about growing square foods, some sort of mold is involved). Anyway, he thinks that he has nothing to celebrate at Thanksgiving because he doesn't have a family. (I don't know why he's not part of the pumpkin family; maybe that's explained in another book.) He wanders (yeah... the pumpkin wanders) through the fields of food crops, and each asks him to join them. But he keeps wandering until he leaves the field, and is then "lost". So he freaks out, and the rest of the foods relay the message back to the scarecrow, who comes and rescues him from... the edge of the field. Then he realizes he has lots of friends, and therefore something to be thankful for.
I still can't get past the square pumpkin (what's the deal?), but as I was reading this book about pumpkins and potatoes and corn and peas in the lead-up to Thanksgiving, I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Why are all of these foods looking forward to a celebration where they're going to be eaten?! Actually, that part was kind of a disappointment. Because they don't. Get eaten, that is. The story just sort of ends, with no mention of the fact that all of those crops are Thanksgiving foods. Even Spookley himself is at risk of being made into a pumpkin pie. It could've been a funny take on the story... but, unfortunately, the author chose not to go there. Instead, all we have is a whiny, inexplicably square pumpkin who's prone to panic attacks and pity parties.
The overall message is decent (i.e., your friends can function as your family, too) and the pictures are fairly cute. But now I can't stop thinking about what might've happened after the last page. Was there some sort of massacre? Did Spookley have his brains scooped out? Are all the characters currently being digested in people's stomachs?
I think I need to stop reading so much into some of these stories...
November 2, 2015
This is a great book about a square pumpkin and how he was mocked for being square until he saved all the pumpkins from being washed away and became the hero. Great for teaching acceptance and not judging someone by how they look.
My sister, who teaches 3rd grade, used the book in her class room and I helped the students to make Paper Mache Spookleys and then paint them. What fun!!
My sister, who teaches 3rd grade, used the book in her class room and I helped the students to make Paper Mache Spookleys and then paint them. What fun!!
October 29, 2015
4.5 stars
December 8, 2016
Picture book: Fun and exciting way to present learning about color and numbers!
October 11, 2020
Spookley is an adorable pumpkin and I loved the illustrations.
Want to read
October 22, 2019The cute little Halloween book talks about a pumpkin that is squared and feels like he does not belong, similar to the ugly duckling. As spookly goes on his journey many different vegetables offer for spookly to join there families and celebrate with them, but spookly just passes them by and declines there offer. He eventually becomes lost and regrets his decisions to keep moving on and not accepting there offers. Even though spookly declined everyone offer they still sent help for him and he suddenly realized what to be thankful for and who is his family. I can see this book being used for children who feel like they do not belong.
November 9, 2022
I also read this book to my practicum students and it was great! We read it at the beginning of the fall season before a pumpkin activity. The students loved the book. The story sends the message that being different can be great. The vocabulary is easy for K-1 to understand and 2-5 could read it on their own. The illustrations were precious and added to the story. I would have this book in my classroom.
November 11, 2020
the date you completed reading the book: 11-10-20
a star rating: 5
the date: 11-10-20
the genre: poetry
appropriate grade range: K-2
a written book review:
A good story about being thankful and belonging.
a star rating: 5
the date: 11-10-20
the genre: poetry
appropriate grade range: K-2
a written book review:
A good story about being thankful and belonging.
May 1, 2023
Spookley learns that family is who cares for you even if they don't look the same. Jack the Scarecrow tells him all about Thanksgiving and he sets out to find his matching family. His friends rally to save him and he realizes he has been with his family all along.
October 5, 2022
Totally love Spookley!!!!
November 8, 2022
The perfect read for young ones after Halloween and before Thanksgiving- it gives the beautiful message of how it’s okay to be different and to embrace our differences 🥰
November 24, 2022
My kids at work loved this book!
October 27, 2024
This is such a nostalgic read for me it was one of my favorites as a kid. It has a good life lesson in it.
October 29, 2024
This book has become a classic Halloween tale that children have grown to love. I think there could be a whole series of books based off of Spookley.
December 30, 2024
👍🏻👍🏻 Heartwarming
October 2, 2025
This is a good Halloween book to read a round that time to kids! It’s funny has a plot as well as teaching kids that 1. It’s okay to be different and 2. It also is showing them how to have courage.
November 18, 2025
It had a nice message. It is appropriate for very young children who are not curious and know nothing about gardens. Peas are still growing on November. Nothing is picked.
January 3, 2019
This is another bed time staple in my house!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews