Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin

Posted on October 31, 2016September 13, 2019 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin (2004)
words by Rick Walton, illustrated by Delana Bettoli

As Halloween approaches, Mrs. McMurphy gets daily visits from a mysterious and spooky pumpkin showing up in her house. As the facial features of the pumpkin gradually appear, it promises to eat her once its teeth arrive. Mrs. McMurphy responds to each encounter gently, but firmly by putting the pumpkin in its place, so to speak.

I wasn’t sure how our 3-year old would react to this story, as it has the potential to be a bit scary. But I think that Mrs. McMurphy’s strong character and care-free reactions to the pumpkin keep this story approachable for little ones. I love that it IS a slightly spooky, “campfire” tale that (kid-depending) could be appropriate for a younger crowd.

Mrs. McMurphy’s Pumpkin (2004)

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Halloween Book list

The Monster at the End of This Book

Posted on October 25, 2016July 4, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

The Monster at the End of This Book (1971)
by Jon Stone, illustrated by Michael Smollin

Lovable, furry old Grover (of Sesame Street fame) is scared. There is a monster at the end of the book, and he is doing everything in his power to stop you, the reader, from turning the pages. He ties pages together, builds walls, all the while begging the reader to Please. Stop. Turning. The. Pages.

This is an interactive book created before they were all the rage. It’s short, simple, funny, and fun.

While obviously not a “Halloween” book, it could easily fit a Halloween theme if need be. This is definitely one of my favorites.

The Monster at the End of This Book (1971)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Posted on October 25, 2016July 4, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)
by Robert C. O’Brien

Widowed Mrs. Frisby (a mouse) must find a solution to help her young son, Timothy, before the family is forced to move out of their winter home in the field of Mr. Fitzgibbon. She finds unexpected help from a strange group of rats who have a story all their own.

This is such an enjoyable read. In some ways, it reminds me of the movie Ratatouille, as we hear about life from the rats’ point of view. The story is told quite simply, and yet it’s difficult to put down. Children will love this tale, full of adventures, suspense, and kindnesses. It’s one of our daughter’s all-time favorites.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)

Update: After rereading this and reading it out loud to our daughter, I wanted to add a few more things. This book was written in the 70s, and I needed to keep that in mind. There was nothing overtly anti-feminist or anything, but there were a few small moments that stood out a little more to me this reading. (My sensors go into high alert when we’re sharing anything with the kids.) There are a couple instances when Mrs. Frisby is given special treatment, not for her own bravery and work, but because of her husband. There’s a also a meeting for only the men at one point. I was able to accept it all a bit more as the story unfolded, but these may be things you want to discuss. Also, Mrs. Frisby definitely earns her own place and respect for all she does. So, by the end, I wasn’t as troubled by it as I was in the middle of the book. Just something to keep in mind.

The Story of Ferdinand

Posted on October 25, 2016July 4, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

The Story of Ferdinand (1936)
by Munro Leaf, illustrations by Robert Lawson

I never read this classic picture book as a child, so I don’t know that I would have picked it up for our baby girl had a friend not given it to us. It instantly became one of my favorites!

This charming book tells the story of Ferdinand, a nature-loving, peaceful bull who accidentally ends up at the bull fight in Madrid. The simple black-and-white illustrations are just delightful, and I love how Ferdinand is content to just be himself. I’m so glad to have this picture book as part of our daughter’s library!

Apparently, this picture book was written in one afternoon, and it caused enough controversy to be banned from several countries including Spain, where the tale takes place.

The Story of Ferdinand (1936)

Tea with Grandpa

Posted on October 25, 2016July 4, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Tea with Grandpa (2014)
by Barney Saltzberg

A young girl and her grandpa meet for tea every afternoon. We get to see how they interact during their tea parties, and there’s a lovely 21st century twist at the end.

I am a sucker for anything tea party-related, and I just love that this book features a grandpa, which seems to be rare in picture books. I love their daily ritual, and it inspires me to find something similar for our daughter.