LILLY’S SURPRISE PUMPKINS

Walking through the orchard in early summer with her parents and big white dog, Lilly spots some leafy vines spilling over the old compost heap—pumpkin “volunteers.” Dad explains, “We didn’t plant them, they sprouted from the pumpkins we threw away last fall.” Over the course of a long, hot season, Lilly plays, grooms her dog, rakes, and picks apples, all the while watching over her crop. She learns that bees pollinate the flowers, and her parents tell her how to protect the small fruits from hungry foxes, deer, and rabbits. Lilly is eager to harvest the pumpkins but must wait until they are big and ripe, with dry stems. And when they are picked, she leaves many behind for wildlife—and for next year’s volunteers. Final pages offer information on pumpkins and recipes for some of the pumpkin dishes Lilly has dreamed of. Simplified, line-free illustrations bring these days to life in clear, earthy greens and browns. Those curious about the origins of jack-o’-lanterns or pumpkin pie—or who wish to learn more about rural life—will find this a lucid and appetizing option. Dad is brown-skinned, Mom is pale-skinned, and Lilly is tan-skinned.