Pumpkin Children’s Books recommendations–2023 are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.

See a Pumpkin Grow (See It Grow!)
by Kirsten Chang (Author)
- Publisher : Bellwether Media
- Year: 2023
- Grades: 1-3
- Children’s nonfiction paperback : 24 pages
- ISBN-13 : 979-8886872033
Brief summary: Young readers will learn the pumpkin’s life cycle and what uses there are with this fruit.
Comments: Words and photos are large, with many nonfiction text features. The back sections are Glossary, To Learn More, and Index.
This book also comes in library binding.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
This is part of the See It Grow! series.
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.


Pumpkin Day at the Zoo
by Susan Meissner (Author), Pablo Pino (Illustrator)
- Publisher : Tommy Nelson
- Year: 2023
- Grades: PreK-3
- Hardcover picture book : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1400243386
Brief summary: It’s Pumpkin Day at the zoo when the zoo animals receive yummy pumpkins to eat from families who donate their uncarved and unpainted pumpkins.
Comments: The illustrations are vivid and humorous. The text is a mix of fonts and sizes that are fun to say aloud with many descriptive adjectives, alliterations, and all in rhyming sentences.
The back page does have a word about pumpkin donations to zoos.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.


There Was an Old Lady Who Picked a Pumpkin!
by Lucille Colandro (Author), Jared Lee (Illustrator)
- Publisher : Cartwheel Books
- Year: 2023
- Grades: PreK-1
- Paperback picture book : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1338882953
Brief summary: There was an old lady who went on the school bus to a farm looking for a pumpkin patch. She and the students follow the sign and see many farm items before finding the patch. Each child picks out a pumpkin and hops back onto the bus.
Comments: This is a fun fall early reader in rhyme. The book is not the usual cumulative “There was an old lady” who eats something book.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

The Pie That Molly Grew
by Sue Heavenrich (Author), Chamisa Kellogg (Illustrator)
- Publisher : Sleeping Bear Press
- Year: 2023
- Grades: PreK -2
- Hardcover picture book : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1534111840
Brief summary: Molly plants a pumpkin seed and transplants the sprout to watch it grow into a vine with yellow flowers. After all of the care she has given to produce the ripened pumpkin, Molly bakes a pie.
Comments: Cumulative story of the pumpkin’s life cycle.
The back pages have four additional informative sections: American Pie, How to Turn a Pumpkin Into Pie, When You’re Ready to Make the Pie…, and No Bees.No Pie.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.