How many seeds in a pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara illustrated by G Brian Karas

Charlie is the smallest kid in his class. He is always put at the end of the class line because the children are sorted by size. This hurt my heart - I was the smallest kid in my class. Luckily Charlie has a very wise teacher. It is Halloween and Mr Tiffin brings three pumpkins into the classroom. Over several days he asks the class to think about how many seeds each pumpkin might contain. The children guess with all sorts of wild answers and of course they are sure the biggest pumpkin has the most seeds. Then Mr Tiffin cuts a circle in the top of each pumpkin and the kids scoop out the seeds. Overnight Mr Tiffin dries the seeds and the next day the counting begins.

Mr Tiffin is such a skilled teacher the children have no idea he has turned this into a maths lesson. How will they count all those seeds? By twos or groups of five or perhaps groups of ten! I am sure every kid is still convinced the biggest pumpkin will 'win' but of course they are in for a surprise.

That is not the end of this lesson, though. The smallest pumpkin has the most seeds and that was the one counted by Charlie's group. Mr Tiffin knows it is also time to change the way the class line up - now it can be smallest to tallest - I love the smile on Charlie's face.

"Size alone is not the most important thing." Here is the illustration from the beginning of the book.

Bookseller blurb: Mr. Tiffin and his students explore skip counting and estimation in a fun pumpkin-themed classroom experiment! This book makes a wonderful read-aloud companion to any math or science curriculum, and it's a fun way to reinforce counting skills at home. "How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess. Counting pumpkin seeds is messy business, but once the slimy job is done, to everyone's surprise, the smallest pumpkin has the most seeds! As Charlie happily exclaims, "Small things have a lot going on inside of them."

In some ways I feel bad sharing books here on my blog that are out of print but on the other hand I do hope they might inspire you to check out your school or local public library. How many seeds in a pumpkin was published in 2007 and so I was surprised to discover it is still available to buy but it is very very, expensive here in Australia. It is a book that is worth hunting out either for Halloween when you might be thinking about pumpkins or just as a terrific book to promote a conversation about maths or more importantly acceptance of difference so check out your library.

You can see a video of the book here.

I picked up this book from a pumpkin library display because I do love art by G Brian Karas. If you also want to talk about the idea of the different ways a class might line up for class, try to find the old Australian junior novel - First at Last by Julia McClelland illustrated by Ann James. 

There are three books in the series by Margaret McNamara and G Brian Karas featuring the wonderful teacher Mr Tiffin:

Happy Days for Mouse and Mole by Joyce Dunbar illustrated by James Mayhew

Warm and comforting as the softest blanket, Mouse and Mole should be 

on every child’s bookshelf 

ready to be enjoyed independently or shared with a grown up!

The Book Activist

I first encountered a Mouse and Mole book when they were published in a slightly smaller format by Corgi as Corgi Pups. Now they are larger and have colour illustrations and are published by Graffeg from Wales. 

Begin here with my previous post about Mouse and Mole. 

There are three stories in Happy Days for Mouse and Mole. The first story is a trickster tale. Mouse makes himself a terrific hammock, but Mole wonders will it be safe, will it be comfortable, will it be perfect. Mole offers to try out the hammock meanwhile Mouse is expected to fetch cushions, biscuits and lemonade. The surprise ending will give you and your young reading companion a smile. 

In the second story Mole misplaces his glasses. Actually, he has many, many pairs of glasses all designed for different purposes. I love the page which is filled with so many variations on glasses including glasses to find glasses!

The final story is a perfect one to read at the start of Autumn as the leaves are falling. 

"If you can catch a falling leaf, you will be lucky for the rest of the year."

Now for some details - Why oh why is this book SO expensive here in Australia? I want to say this book should be added to your Primary school library but the copy I borrowed from a school library (they thoughtfully include the price of their books beside the imprint page) cost AUS$33. Looking for others in the series they seem to range in price from AUS$20 up to AUS$33. And the other problem is that once you buy one Mouse and Mole book you will want ALL nine of them - yes they are that good.

• Mouse and Mole 
• Mouse and Mole have a Party
• Happy Days for Mouse and Mole
• A Very Special Mouse and Mole
• A Fresh Start
• The Secret of Happiness
• Mouse and Mole: Lo and Behold! (Watch a video)
• Mouse and Mole: Clink, Clank, Clunk!
• Mouse and Mole: Boo to the Who

Check out the website of James Mayhew. Here are other books by Joyce Dunbar. Mouse and Mole is/was also a television series. Use my post label unlikely friends to find other splendid easy chapter books about friends like Mouse and Mole.

As always, the gentle humour in Joyce Dunbar’s thought-provoking story telling is given a delightfully nostalgic feel thanks to James Mayhew’s charmingly elegant illustrations. Whether as bedtime reading for little ones or read solo by older children, these are small literary gems. Red Reading Hub

Little Goose's Autumn by Elli Woollard illustrated by Briony May Smith

"And one apple-red, dappled-red, breeze-blown day, 

When the goose went down to the lakeside to play,

She felt in her heart a sharp tugging pain,

Like a strange kind of longing she couldn't explain."

A little goose feels a tug at her heart but what does it mean? She knows it is now autumn so she sets off to ask the other forest animals. The beavers are chopping wood, the squirrels are gathering acorns and the bears are preparing their den for their winter sleep.

It is Autumn here in Australia so this is the prefect book to share with your young reading companion. And yes it is fairly new (2020) so it is available. I am happy to report that the rhyme used in this book works really well (sadly this is not always the case). 

See inside this book here.

I have talked about other Animal Migration and Bird Migration books on this blog. The perfect companion read to go with Little Goose's Autumn would be Lucy Goosey by Margaret Wild illustrated by Ann James.

Here is the companion volume by Elli Woollard and Briony May Smith:

Picture book themes - letting go, accepting change

 

I recently read these two books about letting go; about courage; about change; and about risk taking both of which are told through as a parable or fable. At first glance you might think these are books about trees, leaves, seeds and autumn but really they have much deeper themes and they have such contrasting illustration styles.

Little Tree lives in the forest with the other trees. When Autumn begins all of his companions shed their leaves but "he just hugged his leaves tight." Seasons come and go but Little Tree just won't let those leaves go. The forest trees around him grow taller and taller until "one summer, Little Tree could no longer feel the sunlight." Finally he does let go and something miraculous happens. Read more about Little Tree in these review comments:

A strong picture book with an important message that is cleverly told, this book encourages young readers to embrace change and the uncertainties of life. Waking Brain Cells

In Little Tree, Loren so perfectly captures what it means to move on with courage and bravery. ... I believe that everyone, children and adults alike, will bring their own experiences to this book and come away with renewed hope and encouragement that it’s OK to move on and let go. Reading with Mr Teut

In this video Loren Long talks about his book and the deeper themes he wanted to share. 

My second book, Stay Little Seed, was originally published in Italy with the title Chissadove. When the wind blows all the seeds fly away - north, south and "even who knows where." But one tiny seed stayed. The tree and the seed form a relationship with the tree protecting the little seed until one morning a magpie plucks the seed off the tree. Luckily the magpie drops the seed. The tiny seed is not "who knows where" it is very close and over time it grows into a new sapling. Read more about Stay, Little Seed in these review comments:

Stay, Little Seed celebrates the rhythms of the natural world and shares a gentle message for all of us, no matter our age: Sometimes, by letting go and being brave, we begin life’s greatest adventures. A Book and a Hug

Careful nurturing begets the launch into the unknown: Valentini celebrates both as natural and fitting. Kirkus

Cristiana Valentini comes from Italy and Philip Giordano lives in Japan. You can see the whole book here.

Evelyn del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

Perhaps the title tells you all you need to know about this book? No, there is so much more to this story. Evelyn de Rey is Daniela's best friend, her best friend in the whole wide world. And now she is moving away. These two friends have lived next door to each other for ever! They play together, they visit each others apartments, and they have years of shared memories. Even though Evelyn does move away, Daniela knows this is a friendship that will last forever.

"I know she will always be my first mejor amiga, my número uno best friend."

Take a look at this book trailer for Elevlyn de Rey is Moving Away. I am sure it will convince you that this book is one you will want to add to your library. The Autumn setting is also perfect for a book which explores the idea of change. 

I have a Pinterest collection of picture books about moving to a new house. The most obvious book to pair with Evelyn del Rey is moving away would be Amy and Louis by Libby Gleeson.

You can see other books by Newbery medalist Meg Medina here. Here are some other books illustrated by Spanish illustrator Sonia Sanchez. Her art style is 'scrumptious'. 

The Lonely Mailman by Susanna Isern illustrated by Daniel Montero Galán

A loving tribute to problem-solvers, quarrel menders, 

and peacemakers. Kirkus Star review

The mailman is lonely because, while he delivers letters every day to the other forest animals he never receives a letter himself and each evening he returns to his empty home.

Oddly I cannot say much more about The Lonely Mailman because I want you to enjoy the wonderful story surprise. I do have one small suggestion. Once you have read this book and discovered the 'truth' you might like to re-read the pairs of letters in reverse order.  If you cannot bear to wait to read this book you can read the whole plot here - Celebrate Picture books.

A couple of weeks ago I talked about A Mystery in the forest also by Susanna Isern and Daniel Montero Galán. The Lonely Mailman is the first book in this series. The Spanish title is Cartas en el bosque. You can see inside the Spanish edition here. The paperback edition of The Lonely Mailman was published in 2017 and I am pleased to see it is still available. I do enjoy books that contain letters and I have made a small Pinterest collection of them - Letters and Letter writing.

Fletcher and the falling leaves by Julia Rawlinson illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

 

A poetic tribute to winter and fall, Fletcher’s story is sure to resonate with young readers. Kirkus

Fletcher is worried. His favourite tree looks brown and dull and dry. Fletcher is sure his tree is unwell. His mother tells him not to worry - it is autumn. But Fletcher does not understand and as the days and weeks go by his tree looks worse. Standing under the tree a leaf falls off. Fletcher catches the leaf and ties it back on but the leaf falls off again and the next day more and more leaves have fallen. Birds gather them for their nests, squirrels gather them for their nests and even the porcupine takes some. The birds can see how distressed Fletcher has become and so they poke the leaves back onto the branches but the wind picks up again and the next morning all of the leaves are on the ground and the tree has bare branches. Now there is only one leaf left. When this last leaf falls Fletcher takes it home and places it in a tiny bed. 

What comes after Autumn - Winter! Fletcher goes outside and his tree is transformed with a thousand icicles. Make sure you touch this last page - Tipanie Beeke has added glitter which makes a beautifully tactile page. 

Weston Woods have an animated version of Fletcher and the falling leaves.  Sadly we can no longer purchase Weston Woods DVDs here in Australia. 

It's Autumn here in Australia and this is my favourite season. I love the colourful leaves and the crunch of them underfoot and the cooler nights, lower humidity and sunny days are wonderful. 

Fletcher and the falling leaves was first published in 2006 but it is still available and there is a newer paperback edition. This is one book from the series called Fletcher's Four Seasons:

And a new Fletcher book has just been released. Fletcher and the Caterpillar was published in March 2021 and will be followed by Fletcher and the Rainbow in August 2021, Fletcher and the Rockpool in June 2022 and Fletcher and the Stars in October 2022. Here is the web site for Julia Rawlinson.

The name Tiphanie Beeke intrigued me. She studied in London and lives in the South of France.

I found quite a few video versions on YouTube of Fletcher and the falling leaves.  If you are working with teacher education students it might be useful to use these to compare ways of reading a picture book - pausing, pace, page turns, showing the cover, end papers, title page, back cover etc.

Children's Books Read Aloud

A story for Boo

Sonoma County

Family Literacy storytime

My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has a blog post where she shares books filled with Autumn leaves. She also has a Pinterest filled with Autumn books.