Josh’s little sister Callie is probably the sweetest girl in the whole county, but no one loves her more than her big brother. When Josh finds a giant pumpkin on Grandpa Frank’s farm, the two agree to keep it a secret from Grandpa’s prospective buyers. It is the biggest pumpkin that Callie has ever seen, and Josh tells the four year old stories about magic pumpkins. With such a big pumpkin, Josh will surely be crowned Harvest Festival King and get to ride in the biggest float in the parade.
As the Harvest Festival nears, Callie wanders off and gets lost in the woods. She’s scared of the dark, but she was never afraid of the pumpkins. Josh’s clever idea about how to find his sister means he will have to give up his magic pumpkin and any chance of being crowned king. The whole town is united in this heartwarming fall story. A welcome relief to the spooky, sugar-charged mayhem of many Halloween tales.
About the Author
Kathryn Lay is a full-time writer and instructor. She has taught writing classes at www.coffeehouseforwriters.com and regularly speaks to libraries, schools, bookstores, and at writers’ conferences. Her book Crown Me! has been awarded the 2004 Best Juvenile Book from the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. and the 2005 Golden Spur Award. Lay has published more than fourteen hundred articles, essays, and stories for children’s and adult magazines and anthologies, including Highlights for Children, Woman’s Day, Jack & Jill, U.S. Kids, Pockets, Cricket, Spider, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, Boys’ Life, Children’s Book Insider, Spellbound, Wee Ones, Hopscotch, Teen Power, Teen Life, Children’s Playmate, and the SCBWI Bulletin, among others. Lay resides in Arlington, Texas.
About the Illustrator
Katy Bratun’s art has appeared in picture books, advertisements, greeting cards, puzzles, posters, museum banners, stickers, kids’ craft projects, and game boards. She enjoys talking about the creation of picture books to children in school and library settings. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and belongs to the Picture Book Artists Association. She resides in Salem, Massachusetts.
JOSH’S HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN
By Kathryn Lay
Illustrated by Katy Bratun
JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Halloween
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus.
ISBN: 9781589805958