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How to Help a Pumpkin Grow
What does it take to help a pumpkin grow? Find out in this warm, rhyming tale of gardening and unexpected friendship.
Dog is planting a garden, doing all he can to help his pumpkins protecting them from snow, weeding and watering their patch, and keeping them safe from barnyard creatures who might eat the sprouts! But are Crow, Rabbit, Duck, and Goat really out to destroy the garden? Or are they be new friends hoping to pitch in and help the pumpkins thrive?
Dog is planting a garden, doing all he can to help his pumpkins protecting them from snow, weeding and watering their patch, and keeping them safe from barnyard creatures who might eat the sprouts! But are Crow, Rabbit, Duck, and Goat really out to destroy the garden? Or are they be new friends hoping to pitch in and help the pumpkins thrive?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published July 20, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 14, 2021
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Food: pumpkin pie
Nature: Gardening
SEL: Collaboration, cooperation, community
Repetition, rhyme, minimal text, visually captivating characters, working together to achieve something good: This is a perfect fall read-aloud for daycares!
Food: pumpkin pie
Nature: Gardening
SEL: Collaboration, cooperation, community
Repetition, rhyme, minimal text, visually captivating characters, working together to achieve something good: This is a perfect fall read-aloud for daycares!
October 20, 2021
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is How to Help a Pumpkin Grow by Ashley Wolff, a delightful autumn romp for little pumpkin lovers.
Sparse, simple rhyming text follows a farming Border Collie as the pup builds, plants, and tends a pumpkin patch. The dog patiently walks the reader through the simplified pumpkin-growing instructions, garnering the interest, then assistance, of several farmyard friends. At last, the new pals harvest their crop to bake pies and carve jack-a-lanterns together.
Adorable. This sweet and straightforward title spins a delightful and unique fall tale that’s perfect for young readers, incorporating a light lesson on how pumpkins grow and a lot of sweet interactions between the animal cast. The artwork is filled with autumnal colors and clever details, including a mouse character hidden on every spread. The only thing that admittedly threw me was the dog’s oddly-illustrated work gloves, which have thumbs for some reason, but that is a very minor quibble. The length was perfect for even very young bookworms, and JJ loved it. A sweet fall treat, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
October 13, 2025
Stories in rhyme | Detailed illustrations | Pumpkins (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma
November 10, 2021
Dog plants a pumpkin garden, other animals, traditional enemies to gardens, show up. Will they help or harm the pumpkin patch? I first thought this was a return of Miss Bindergarten, but that character belongs to another author, and is identified as a male in the summary. Rhyming text flows well, love the inevitable jack o lanterns at the end!
November 21, 2021
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
HOW TO HELP A PUMPKIN GROW begins with a dog, who is planting a pumpkin garden. When the dog is protecting the garden from a hungry crow, the dog ends up inviting the crow to help the pumpkins grow. They continue to take care of it and are joined by other animals who want to help the pumpkins grow. In the end, they harvest their pumpkins, roast and toast them before turning them into jack-o-lanterns.
What I loved: This is a really fun read, with friendship, working together, and fall themes. The anthropomorphic animals leap off the pages and will definitely appeal to young readers, who will also enjoy the brief but rhyming text on each page. The story may inspire some budding gardeners, as it makes it all look quite magical, from planting to protecting from the snow to watering and growing and harvesting. The ending is quite jubilant and perfect for fall. This would be great in the classroom to celebrate fall or enjoyed at home.
Final verdict: An adorable picture book for fall, HOW TO HELP A PUMPKIN GROW is a sweet read about gardening, friendship, and teamwork that is sure to appeal to toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school aged readers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
HOW TO HELP A PUMPKIN GROW begins with a dog, who is planting a pumpkin garden. When the dog is protecting the garden from a hungry crow, the dog ends up inviting the crow to help the pumpkins grow. They continue to take care of it and are joined by other animals who want to help the pumpkins grow. In the end, they harvest their pumpkins, roast and toast them before turning them into jack-o-lanterns.
What I loved: This is a really fun read, with friendship, working together, and fall themes. The anthropomorphic animals leap off the pages and will definitely appeal to young readers, who will also enjoy the brief but rhyming text on each page. The story may inspire some budding gardeners, as it makes it all look quite magical, from planting to protecting from the snow to watering and growing and harvesting. The ending is quite jubilant and perfect for fall. This would be great in the classroom to celebrate fall or enjoyed at home.
Final verdict: An adorable picture book for fall, HOW TO HELP A PUMPKIN GROW is a sweet read about gardening, friendship, and teamwork that is sure to appeal to toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school aged readers.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
Read
October 21, 2021Books centering on pumpkins, jack-o'-lanterns, vampires, ghosts, witches, goblins, and things that go bump in the night can be read and enjoyed any month of the year but when the last stroke of midnight echoes on October first, something happens. Readers' desire to enter and explore the season increases tenfold. Whether it is fact or fiction, funny or frightening; they want it all.
Before October arrived this year, pumpkins were appearing at every grocery store, nursery, and farmer's market. These squash are a symbol of the season. They find their way into our food and drink, outdoor and indoor displays and decorations, and in our gardens, too. There is something clearly satisfying about watching a pumpkin grow from blossom to something heavy we can hold in our hands. How to Help a Pumpkin Grow (Beach Lane Books, July 20, 2021), one of the newest titles by author illustrator Ashley Wolff, joyously informs readers.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
Before October arrived this year, pumpkins were appearing at every grocery store, nursery, and farmer's market. These squash are a symbol of the season. They find their way into our food and drink, outdoor and indoor displays and decorations, and in our gardens, too. There is something clearly satisfying about watching a pumpkin grow from blossom to something heavy we can hold in our hands. How to Help a Pumpkin Grow (Beach Lane Books, July 20, 2021), one of the newest titles by author illustrator Ashley Wolff, joyously informs readers.
My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
October 22, 2024
Do you want to grow a pumpkin?
Dog will help with sound advice. Plus enlisting the aid of various farm friends - who at first appear to be a threat to Dog's garden but soon end up helping. This book is similar to the Little Red Hen trope except Dog's friends do actually help grow the pumpkins. And then get to eat yummy pie and carve look alike jack-o-lanterns.
This is a wonderful non-spooky read with lots of short, rhyming words perfect for young readers. And it is not overtly Halloween-ish for the most part.
Dog will help with sound advice. Plus enlisting the aid of various farm friends - who at first appear to be a threat to Dog's garden but soon end up helping. This book is similar to the Little Red Hen trope except Dog's friends do actually help grow the pumpkins. And then get to eat yummy pie and carve look alike jack-o-lanterns.
This is a wonderful non-spooky read with lots of short, rhyming words perfect for young readers. And it is not overtly Halloween-ish for the most part.
September 15, 2026
A dog invites other farmyard animals to help him grow a pumpkin.
Dog is cultivating a pumpkin patch, and he asks other animals who could potentially destroy the crop to help in the process. Once the pumpkins are picked, all the animals enjoy making and eating pumpkin pie and carving Jack-o'-Lanterns.
Young readers will learn the steps in growing pumpkins from planting to harvest.
The illustrations were done in acrylic gouache on Fabriano watercolor paper.
Dog is cultivating a pumpkin patch, and he asks other animals who could potentially destroy the crop to help in the process. Once the pumpkins are picked, all the animals enjoy making and eating pumpkin pie and carving Jack-o'-Lanterns.
Young readers will learn the steps in growing pumpkins from planting to harvest.
The illustrations were done in acrylic gouache on Fabriano watercolor paper.
November 28, 2021
A rhyming picture book about the step-by-step description of a dog growing pumpkins. The gentle rhyming and large, soft illustrations make this a wonderful non-scary book to share on Halloween. Little ones will enjoy the friendly depiction of working on a community garden and sharing the yummy benefits.
October 14, 2021
This is a cute, rhyming Halloween story for little ones. It uses brief text and a gaggle of animals to share how pumpkins are planted and cared for until they bloom and get picked. It’s a satisfying story that leads to pumpkin pie and jack-o-lanterns.
July 27, 2021
Loved it! Too cute !
September 13, 2021
Love the pictures and the story line is just so cute.
November 19, 2021
Author of the Mrs. Bindergarten books, tells another rhyming story of the pumpkin's life cycle. Add it to your pumpkin text set along with PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN (Titherington) and PUMPKIN CIRCLE (Nelson).
November 29, 2021
Cute toddler book for autumn. Little Halloween twist at the end too!
January 30, 2022
This simple rhyming text and colorful illustrations of anthropomorphic animals is a fun October/Halloween book about pumpkins from seed to pies and Jack-o-lanterns!
August 1, 2022
A simple rhyming book about the life cycle of a pumpkin perfect for any time of year. The only reference to Halloween is the mention of carving pumpkins at the end of the book.
March 22, 2023
Beautiful illustrations and simple rhyming text. It was fun reading how the animal characters helped pumpkins grow.
June 6, 2023
Narrated with such enthusiasm, I want to help the pumpkins grow too! This is great for learning about crops, caring for something, and the fruits of your labor.
October 19, 2023
This was a cute book used for an October Story Time program at the library. Repetitive with rhymes, it makes a good read-aloud. The kids and I liked the gardening dog MC.
October 26, 2024
From seedlings to pie and other uses, this books shows the steps and care needed to help a pumpkin grow
November 19, 2024
Toddler and preschool
Rhyming text; seasons
Rhyming text; seasons
December 6, 2024
Cute illustrations and the pumpkin information would be great for early elementary. I just don’t care for the fragmented sentences style, not even for the sake of rhyme.
December 17, 2025
little confused why the deer don't use their front hooves like the dog do..they're both 4..foot..ers..quadrupeds?..:/
October 7, 2024
Happy-clappy, repetitive, and boring. Can we give our kids something more interesting and stimulating?
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews