10 Spooky Pumpkins

by Gris Grimly

Join celebrated creator Gris Grimly in this spooky countdown, as one little girl ventures out into the night for an unforgettable Halloween adventure!

10 little pumpkins, sitting in a line,
looking for a cat and they found nine.
The wind said SWOOSH and the gate went CREAK.
The owl cried WHOOOO, we all screamed EEK!

Gris Grimly, widely known for his gothic style illustrations, puts a spooky twist on a favorite preschool rhyme in this Halloween read-aloud. Join goblins, ghosts, witches, and more in this rhythmic countdown, traveling through the countryside and discovering more Halloween creatures along the way. Finally, the story culminates with them all joining together in a joyful celebration under the full harvest moon, dancing until it's time for bed. Paired with Gris Grimly's sweeping, stunning watercolor illustrations and a rhyming refrain reminiscent of classics like We're Going on a Bear Hunt, this is a read-aloud for the whole family to cherish.

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Holiday, Childrens, Storytime, Counting, Juvenile

34 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

Gris Grimly is an artist and storyteller who is based in the Los Angeles area best known for his darkly whimsical children's books.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Halloween counting book told in rhyme that would appeal to young children. The illustrations are eye catching, and it would be a great book to read aloud!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using the classic childhood song Five Little Pumpkins as his starting point, author/artist Gris Grimly here creates an engagingly spooky countdown picture-book for Halloween. As a child ventures outside on Halloween night, she encounters the eponymous ten spooky pumpkins, who find nine cats, who find eight bats, and so on. Eventually all of the creatures described have a party together, before the one moon rises, and the eerie wind sends everyone running for home...

With an entertaining text in rhyme and delightfully expressive illustrations, Ten Spooky Pumpkins would make for an excellent Halloween read-aloud for younger children. The artwork, done in watercolor and ink, manages to be both sweet and scary, making excellent use of color and light to capture the magic of Halloween night. I particularly liked the depiction of the toothless witches (naturally), and the party scene at the end. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for Halloween fare for younger children, perhaps three to six years of age.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Count backwards with plenty of Halloween creatures in this jaunty picture book full of autumn shadows. The ten pumpkins start us out by looking for a cat and finding 9. The black cats creep along the gate, finding eight bats. They discover seven goblins, then six ghosts, five wolves, and onward until we end up with everyone having a grand Halloween bash together. But the book isn’t done yet, as one round full moon rises in the sky, sending everyone running in fright. The little girl ends up fast asleep in bed, her Halloween candy nearby.

The text here is marvelously simple and has a merry rhythm and rhyme that bounces along nicely. That is combined with illustrations that are full of Halloween sights. All of the creatures are perfectly strange with snaggle toothed wolves, slinky black cats, flapping eerie bats, and whispy yet round ghosts. The creatures add to the strangeness of the book, bringing it fully into the Halloween spirit. With dark blacks, bright oranges and the light of the moon, the illustrations are full of seasonal colors.

A counting book sure to bring a Happy Halloween! Appropriate for ages 2-5.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Grimly looks grimly upon the Halloween sights in this adorable picture book. His jaunty rhyme and colorful pictures are perfect Halloween fare for toddlers and preschoolers, (as well as the adults who are sharing this book with them.) Ten spooky pumpkins find nine black cats, who then find eight bats. Kids can get practice counting the items, counting backwards and predicting the rhyme at the end of the stanza. Grandma and child both rate this one a solid ten (pumpkins.)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A counting book that riffs off Five Little Pumpkins and makes a fun read aloud. I really dislike some of the illustrations (e.g. cats and wolves - you can't recognize the wolves as wolves), but kids will enjoy counting and it would make a fun flannel story for story time.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my favorites to read at Halloween time :)

[Shawna Fender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book for Halloween lovers! ^_^

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's Picture Book

Countdown from 10

Fantastic spooky illustrations!

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read aloud!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

10 SPOOKY PUMPKINS is a haunting and intriguing picture book that counts down from 10 with Halloween creatures. The book begins with 10 pumpkins who find 9 cats, who then find 8 bats, and so on until we get to the 1 moon on Halloween night. The rhythmic text is accompanied by lovely but spooky illustrations of each scene along the way.

What I loved: These illustrations are gorgeous and felt along the lines of Tim Burton - too spooky for young or sensitive readers but really stunning. The book definitely shines for its imagery, which brings to life each of the spooky creatures that haunt Halloween, and even features a personified Moon to watch over it all. The rhythmic text is fun to read aloud and the countdown helps promote number learning.

What left me wanting more: This is a tough book to place in terms of readership. The countdown aspect plus length would typically appeal to toddlers/preschoolers, but the imagery might be better suited for older readers, as they are definitely spooky (particularly the goblins, wolves, and ghosts).

Final verdict: A haunting read for Halloween, 10 SPOOKY PUMPKINS features lovely and artistic illustrations with rhythmic countdown text in an entertaining picture book read.

Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing satisfies the need for some spooky Halloween vibes than a Gris Grimly illustrated picture book, and reading this one on the night of the full moon was absolutely perfection! Grimly takes a simple journey narrative, adds an object counting conceit, and packs the pages with his delightfully macabre characters to give us an excellent October season read. We follow along as a young girl leaves her house on the classic quest for treats, but gets more than she bargained for as she encounters all kinds of spectral spooks who seem to have taken over the town as the veil thins for Halloween! Not a single human is to be found, but she makes quick friends with everyone from the pumpkins who line her fence to the witches brewing a potion, and she seems to have managed to put a giant bow on one of the wolves by the final celebration - adorable and charming in a very “can I pet that dawggg” way! The moon makes a grande finale entrance to end the party, scare all the creatures away, and whisk her home to her bed, which provides just the right gasp of spooky drama to end the tale. This book was an easily delightful read, and makes me want to really get into the Halloween spirit. Time to take to the streets as twilight descends, and see what spooks we can scare up!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

With its eerie and detailed watercolor illustrations that pack a spooky punch, this picture book, perfect for reading aloud as Halloween approaches, is a 3.5 for me. The text uses rhyming lines and repetitive language, and first begins with 10 pumpkins, then counting down one by one until it reaches two scarecrows who frolic with everyone who has been mentioned previously while one full moon watches on in envy and dares to disturb the night air and those who are now slumbering. The way the moon slips over the horizon near the end of the book is deliciously chilling for those who are going for that particular effect. Of course, it's clear that this title can be used to teach youngsters how to count as well as how to add adjectives to their sentences since each of the characters is introduced with an adjective such as "toothless," "wild," or "spooky." The addition of one simple but descriptive word can make those sentences sparkle and elevate the scariness factor in a picture book such as this one.

[R.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really magnificent Halloween counting tale, this short yet completely sweet tale of a young child experiencing the sights and spirits of All Hallows Night is a must for any lover of the haunted. While the rhyme itself is solid and entertaining, it's the art that grabs and keeps you: Grimly's wavering lines and quirked expressions are reminiscent of Dave McKean, his backgrounds are hazy and appropriately bleak, and his silent protagonist is both charming and a little spooky herself. A favorite detail is that the wings of the "8 screeching bats" are made of stitched fabrics, all angles and points. Take a trip into this ghastly, ghostly book and you won't be scared away!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl heads outside only to find 10 pumpkins, 9 cats (loved that illustration, 8 bats (with wings that look like patchwork quilts) 7 goblins etc.

So many characters of Halloween represented in delightful, whimsical and a little bit creepy illustrations. The author's note at the end is a delightful nostalgic romp through his midwestern childhood. While children will like this counting book, adults and teachers will also love "10 Spooky Pumpkins"- so much fun!

Cross posted to http://kisssthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a count-down book in rhyme. The illustrations are watercolor. It represents so much of color and autumn and things that are fun about fall. And about Halloween. I especially think the language would be fun for toddlers and early elementary grades.
If you've ever wondered if a magical world comes alive when you're asleep (as I have), this book is a confirmation of what magic happens when you're sleeping on Halloween night.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has lots of halloween vibes! It feels like an extension on the 5 little pumpkins rhyme, but expanded to be a countdown from 10 that includes other spooky creatures. The pictures are very atmospheric with tattered patterns in all the clothing and, crooked wolf fangs and sinuous cat bodies. The little girl's vacant expression is a little creepily sugary sweet at times--probably because she's dressed like a clown and clowns give me the heebie-jeebies, haha.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Standard Halloween counting book -- except the drawings are well beyond standard. They manage to be dark and scary but cute and goofy at the same time. Those wolves! The mood this book evokes is everything to be hoped for in a Halloween book.

But that clown! Why, why would you put a clown in this? Or any book? Even an old-timey clown is still a clown. Just no. It takes off a whole star.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a new spin on the traditional "Five Little Pumpkins" rhyme. And it's the illustrations that are the star! They are whimsical and slightly spooky. The book offers a nice break from the traditional version - even if the rhyming is ever-so-slightly forced in a few places. (I'm looking at you, gate!)

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with the illustrator and author Gris Grimly. He has captured the essence of Halloween in his spooky gothic illustrations, landscapes, characters.

Once upon a time as day turned to night, a little girl stepped out into the twilight,
The wind said SWOOSH and the gate went CREAK.
The owl cried WHOOOO, and the night sighed EEEK!

[Connie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this imaginative picture book a young girl, dressed as a clown, is out exploring the fields around her home on Halloween night. Each two-page spread offers a countdown of Halloween-themed images (1o pumpkins, 9 cats, 8 bats, etc). The creatures are all a bit odd/ creepy but the overall story isn't.

[Riley Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the aesthetic of this book! I know it’s meant for younger children who are possibly learning to count but there is so much to like about this book. I love the Halloween theming. The rhyming is fantastic. And the art style is so charming. I also loved how the authors child inspired him to write this book. Fantastic get it for the art alone.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Counting down book (10 to 1). Text is one sentence per 2 pages/1 spread. Text rhymes. The illustrations can look a little spooky. Offers some opportunities for engagement (asking about numbers, counting the objects on the page, what noise does a cat make, what color is the pumpkin, etc.) and has some sound effects (wind, ghost, gate).

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the great illustrations might be a bit creepy for some, this countdown book is a great addition to the Halloween collection. It will be a good choice for the storytime crowd but works well for one on one reading too.

[Kelly]

Creepy. But when you start with a rhyme and it's not good, not good tempo, etc., you're surely setting yourself up to not me good. The rhymes, more infrequent, were better, but that title page rhyme was surely lacking.

[AMY · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting Halloween story featuring some creepy characters. The illustrations are outstanding and pretty spooky for sure. However, this countdown to fun frolicking gets kind of strange toward the end. I would skip this one for the elementary level.

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational, seasonal, and fun with pretty illustrations. Both my daughter and I enjoyed this book. It’s short, but my daughter enjoyed the counting, and I enjoyed the pictures. The bus is a great counting book to read right now. This book is great for young kids.

[Dannaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this for our Pumpkin themed story time. It's a good story for practicing counting and I like that it rhymes as the characters walk through the spooky landscape searching for cats, goblins, and ghosts among other Halloween creatures.

[Abby Johnson]

A counting picture book for Halloween, scarier than my favorite from last year, The Ghosts Went Floating.

[Jennifer Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a great addition to Halloween storytimes. Great rhyme, and really beautiful illustrations.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the illustrations