Strong women – Page 4 – Keep in the Sunlight

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

Me, Jane (2011)
written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell

The moment I spotted this book at a friend’s house, I knew it was a must-have for us. This Caldecott Honor book has delightful illustrations by MUTTS comic creator, Patrick McDonnell. The picture book tells the story of Dr. Jane Goodall as a young girl dreaming about living in Africa and helping animals. It’s short and sweet and has inspired me to learn more about this amazing woman. Filled with true anecdotes and even a page of puzzles and drawings that Jane made as a young girl, Me, Jane is a book I can’t wait to add to our collection. And, yes, this mama did get choked up on the final page, which is always evidence of a great book.