Pumpkin Trouble

Pumpkin Trouble
by Jan Thomas

4-Year-Old: Mixed
Mom: Mixed

Summary: In the process of carving a pumpkin to create a jack-o-lantern, a duck falls into the pumpkin and gets stuck.  He starts walking around trying to get help from his friends.  His friends think he is a pumpkin monster and run away.  The duck overhears them and thinks a pumpkin monster is after him.

Review: In the middle of the book when the duck thinks a pumpkin monster is chasing him, I asked my son what he thought was going on.  He understood that the Pig and Mouse thought Duck was a Pumpkin Monster, but he didn't understand why Duck was running away.  I stopped in the middle to explain what each character was thinking.  At the end of the book, I asked him what he thought.  He said, "It was funny, but it wasn't THAT funny."  I agree.  We both liked the artwork and simple language (it was all dialogue similar to Elephant and Piggie books), but I think the Theory of Mind piece of it (understanding what others are thinking and why) might be a bit hard for young children to grasp.  Regardless, it's a fun book for autumn holidays.