Pumpkinhead

Rating:
Summary: Life is always difficult for a boy with a pumpkin for a head
Review: Eric Rohm's Pumpkinhead is a treasure on many levels. The layout, with the diecut front is unique, the artwork is simple, yet compelling. But, most importantly, the story of Pumpkinhead itself is a treasure.
Of the many "halloween-themed" books I read with my five year old daughter, this is by clearly both of our favorite. Dry, ironic wit makes my daughter laugh out loud. Read aloud, the book creates a melody that any child would enjoy. Though the story would seem absurd, my daughter does not view it that way, and asks probing questions.
This is a small book that offers moments of enjoyment to children and adults, much in the way that Art Spiegelman's "Open Me... I'm a Dog" or Hayde Ardalan's "Milton" does.
Read it and learn the story of Otho, because life will always be difficult for a boy with a pumpkin for a head...

Rating:
Summary: Pumpkinhead rules!
Review: I love this book. I love the friendly size of it, the bold illustrations, the generous white space, and most of all, the daring story, which has a nicely twisted sensibility but a warm, embracing heart all the same. It's the tale of a boy who has the misfortune of being born with a pumpkin for a head. His parents accept this odd development without fuss or concern, as does their son Otho, who journeys through life with gratifying good humor and a notable lack of self-consciousness or self-pity. When a hungry bat swoops down and makes off with his head, Otho endures some nerve-wracking escapades. He ends up in the net of a puzzled fisherman and then on sale with other exotic fish in an outdoor market, where his mother joyfully catches sight of him. As Rohmann puts it, "And then, after some spirited dickering, she bought Otho's head and a half-pound of mackerel." To me, this line perfectly captures the story's charm: its strange but wonderful humor, its brisk, no-nonsense approach to troubling situations, and its lovely confidence that everything will turn out fine... not perfect, mind you, but fine, even for a boy with a pumpkin for a head.

Rating:
Summary: A Heady Read
Review: Pumpkinhead by Eric Rohmann is completely different from any children's book I've ever read. It's quirky, it's laugh-out-loud funny, and... well... it's a little dark and edgy. It's a tonic for all parents tired of reading those sugar-sweet children's books to their kids. This one will entertain both parents and children alike -- a rollicking adventure for the kids, and some delightful humor for mom and dad. To make things better, this is a beautifully designed book -- small, square, exquisite woodcuts. This is the best picture book I've read all year.

Rating:
Summary: Pumpkinhead rules!
Review: This book is a beautiful little package, wonderfully chunky, with a die-cut window in the front cover that reveals a picture of the title character. The illustrations are whimsical and bold, the typefaces harmonize with the whole look of the book. It's a well-designed book; very complete and pleasing in that regard.

The story, however, isn't much. A normal couple has a child with a pumpkin for a head. They don't find this unusual. One day, the boy loses his head, and eventually his mother finds it via happenstance. The end. No message, no subtext. Not even any particularly enjoyable language. The story couldn't even be called "cute."

I was tempted to hold onto my review copy, though. The illustrations and overall book design are that good. Fans of printmaking and fledgling book-design geeks might take a shine to this book. I don't see it hanging in there as a storybook or even a novelty book for Halloween, though.

Rating:
Summary: More than just a story....a life lesson for children
Review: This book, to me, is phenomenal. It is about a boy with a pumpkin for a head, and the misfortune that he endures, and at the end, simply relays that misforture may always happen, and that its part of life. It's a simple truth. We all have a pumpkin...a flaw or a problem, and that's life. I think its important to help children understand this...because stories too often have happy-go-lucky endings that we cannot live up to. It's a great book for professionals who work with children on a daily basis, and for parents to read to their kids as well.