Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere!
The links in this post are affiliate links. We receive
compensation when you click on those links and make purchases.
Pumpkin spice and everything nice, right? With each new fall, it seems that more and
more things are being made in pumpkin spice flavoring. While I enjoy some pumpkin things, I am not
someone who jumps on the pumpkin spice bandwagon normally. But the turning of leaves and the crisp chill
in the air (for many of us) definitely helps to put me in the mood for fall
activities. And there is no denying that
there really are pumpkins everywhere this time of year.
My favorite part of fall is pulling out some of our family’s
favorite children’s books like The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe
Troiano. There’s something wonderful
about how this colorful picture book helps children understand that it is okay
to stand out and be different, that this can actually be an asset to
others. I have enjoyed reading this book
to my first graders for years now. The
animated film based on this book takes some liberties with the plot, but Spookley the Square Pumpkin DVD + CD SETis also fun to watch, especially after reading the book.
My family also loves The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin
Lewis. This picture book is a rollicking
rhyming tale that is a fantastic read aloud for little ones. Even reluctant
readers may want to join you in repeating the fun repeating phrases. This book is perfect for starting
conversations about onomatopoeia and word choice.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams is another favorite! This is another great read aloud because of the rhythm of the language and the many repeating phrases.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams is another favorite! This is another great read aloud because of the rhythm of the language and the many repeating phrases.
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White is fun to read when you are
thinking of starting some pumpkin baking projects. Rebecca Estelle, the main character, is a
pumpkin curmudgeon who accidentally finds her yard infested with pumpkins. She becomes obsessed with getting rid of them
and makes many different pumpkin goodies to share with her town, and she gets transformed
into a pumpkin enthusiast in the process.
While it is a picture book, this book has one or two paragraphs to read
per page, making it great for all elementary age students. Caution—this book may make you hungry! So be ready to make or buy some pumpkin
goodies afterwards.
Live it Out
After a quick trip to a local pumpkin patch, we brought home
a pumpkin, carved a jack-o-lantern and saved all the seeds. I usually roast the pumpkin seeds the same day,
but I was not able to do that this year. Instead, I ended up soaking the seeds for a
few hours and this really helped to clean them more quickly. Then, I drained them and put them in an air
tight container in the fridge until I was able to roast them. We made them two ways this year—garlic
flavored and curry flavored. I have to
say the spicy version was the adults’ favorite.
Just dry the pumpkin seeds as much as possible, add your favorite
spices, and bake at 325 for about 20 minutes.
Make sure to shake the pan every 5 minutes or so, or else the pumpkin
seeds will start to burn.
Other quick ideas to do with pumpkins: Painting pumpkins is a fun and easy way to
decorate your pumpkin. It can definitely
be messy, but your kids will love the opportunity to add their artistic spin to
their pumpkin. And of course, bake with
your pumpkin! So many yummy recipes out
there to try. Get creative! Put on some Light Up LED Halloween Pumpkin Glasses / Shades and make up songs about pumpkins. Your children will love it!
Hope your pumpkin season is delightful!!