Pumpkins: A Story for a Field

Rating:
Summary: Sweet, silly, instructive -- I love it!
Review: I am lucky enough to be able to see Ms. Ray and thumb through her books at the Concord Farmers Market each weekend. She is a lovely, magical lady and this is a lovely, magical book! I cried when I first read it and it still makes me weepy because it shows such love and hope. (I am a grownup.) It is also very witty and it SOUNDS good out loud, so parents won't get tired of reading it over and over to the children. Everyone should have a chance to read and re-read Pumpkins, any time of year (it's not a Halloween book, really). Several local conservation organizations carry this book because it demonstrates (in a technically unrealistic way, but that really doesn't matter) how one person can make a big difference. I can't imagine anyone not being touched and amused by this book.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet, silly, instructive -- I love it!
Review: I am lucky enough to be able to see Ms. Ray and thumb through her books at the Concord Farmers Market each weekend. She is a lovely, magical lady and this is a lovely, magical book! I cried when I first read it and it still makes me weepy because it shows such love and hope. (I am a grownup.) It is also very witty and it SOUNDS good out loud, so parents won't get tired of reading it over and over to the children. Everyone should have a chance to read and re-read Pumpkins, any time of year (it's not a Halloween book, really). Several local conservation organizations carry this book because it demonstrates (in a technically unrealistic way, but that really doesn't matter) how one person can make a big difference. I can't imagine anyone not being touched and amused by this book.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book for third graders
Review: I use this book each year to teach my class about different countries and means of travel. I made up math related questions for small group work that includes estimating how many pumpkins could fit on/in each means of travel, How many for sale signs the man had to make, the children time themselves writing out the for sale sign that was attached to each pumpkin. Each child also uses multiplication, divison, estimating with the use of calculators. In the end the book, Pumpkins is a sotry for the chidren to express fellings and emotions about the mans experience in his field of dreams.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book for third graders
Review: I use this book each year to teach my class about different countries and means of travel. I made up math related questions for small group work that includes estimating how many pumpkins could fit on/in each means of travel, How many for sale signs the man had to make, the children time themselves writing out the for sale sign that was attached to each pumpkin. Each child also uses multiplication, divison, estimating with the use of calculators. In the end the book, Pumpkins is a sotry for the chidren to express fellings and emotions about the mans experience in his field of dreams.

Rating:
Summary: A lucky find...
Review: My son's (4 1/2) current enthrallment is pumpkins--he loves the book Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night. So when we found this book at the library the other day he was happy to sit and read it. For some reason we didn't check it out and had to go back the next day to get it (and I've since purchased it here). The subtle absurdities and lovely turns of phrase make this a wonderful book--subversive on the order of Good Dog Carl--and the illustrations are lovely. We love reading this together so much that he's memorized the words and loves to talk about walking in the field amoung the young hills that grow up to be mountains. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Teach Economics with this book!
Review: Our 5th grade uses this book to review and demonstrate real uses of economics terms we've learned. Kids have a worksheet with simple definitions of terms and the following columns. Production- Natural Resources,Capital Equipment,Human Capital; Distribution - How?,Where?; and Consumption - Uses. As we read the book together, the kids write examples from the story under the correct heading (we stop often and prompt "Did we hear some Natural Resources?" YES - the field, the seeds, sun, rain. etc.) This book is such an easy-going way to introduce 10-11 year olds(possibly younger) to the terms and understanding of Economics. Illustrations are also very engaging and gentle.