Mobile Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • My Teacher Store
    • Memberships
    • Courses
    • Amazon Favorites
  • Classroom Design
    • Setting Up Your Classroom
      • Layouts and Arrangements
      • Flexible Seating
    • Classroom Decor
      • General Decor Ideas
      • Themes
      • Color Schemes
    • Bulletin Boards
  • Organization
    • Classroom Organization
    • Paper Organization
    • Classroom Library
    • Teacher Organization
    • Student Organization
    • Supplies & Materials
  • Management
    • Procedures and Routines
    • Behavior Management
    • Field Trips
  • Teaching
    • Planning for a Sub
    • Lesson Planning
      • Curriculum Mapping
      • Lesson Planning
      • Thematic Units
      • Prepping for Lessons
    • Social Emotional Learning
    • Math
      • Guided Math
      • Tips for Teaching Math
      • Math Resources
    • Reading
      • Literature-Based Learning
      • Read Alouds
        • Tips for Read Alouds
        • Book Lists
    • Writing
    • Word Work
    • Science & Social Studies
    • Digital Teaching
    • Assessing Student Progress
  • Seasonal
    • Back to School
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • Holidays Around the World
    • December
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • End of the School Year
  • For Teachers
    • Community
      • Classroom Organization Facebook Group
      • Professional Growth
      • Picture Book Facebook Group
    • Productivity Tips
    • Living on a Teacher’s Salary
    • Creating a Work/Life Balance
    • Teacher Health & Wellness
    • Teacher Lifestyle
    • Quick Teacher Tips
  • At Home Learning
    • Homeschooling
    • Remote Teaching
    • Distance Learning Resources
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Get unlimited access to all our classroom themes and decor for your classroom or distance learning area at home ➔ Yes Please!
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Jodi Durgin Education Co.

Teaching Activities, Resources and Time Savers for Busy Elementary Teachers

  • Membership & Workshops
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • My Teacher Store
    • Memberships
    • Courses
    • Amazon Favorites
  • Classroom Design
    • Setting Up Your Classroom
      • Layouts and Arrangements
      • Flexible Seating
    • Classroom Decor
      • General Decor Ideas
      • Themes
      • Color Schemes
    • Bulletin Boards
  • Organization
    • Classroom Organization
    • Paper Organization
    • Classroom Library
    • Teacher Organization
    • Student Organization
    • Supplies & Materials
  • Management
    • Procedures and Routines
    • Behavior Management
    • Field Trips
  • Teaching
    • Planning for a Sub
    • Lesson Planning
      • Curriculum Mapping
      • Lesson Planning
      • Thematic Units
      • Prepping for Lessons
    • Social Emotional Learning
    • Math
      • Guided Math
      • Tips for Teaching Math
      • Math Resources
    • Reading
      • Literature-Based Learning
      • Read Alouds
        • Tips for Read Alouds
        • Book Lists
    • Writing
    • Word Work
    • Science & Social Studies
    • Digital Teaching
    • Assessing Student Progress
  • Seasonal
    • Back to School
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • Holidays Around the World
    • December
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • End of the School Year
  • For Teachers
    • Community
      • Classroom Organization Facebook Group
      • Professional Growth
      • Picture Book Facebook Group
    • Productivity Tips
    • Living on a Teacher’s Salary
    • Creating a Work/Life Balance
    • Teacher Health & Wellness
    • Teacher Lifestyle
    • Quick Teacher Tips
  • At Home Learning
    • Homeschooling
    • Remote Teaching
    • Distance Learning Resources
You are here: Home / Seasonal / October / PUMPKIN BOOKS FOR KIDS

PUMPKIN BOOKS FOR KIDS

Elementary School Teachers looking for October Read Aloud Books & Activities for their 1st grade, 2nd grade, or 3rd grade students will love the pumpkin picture books for kids and links to resources with reading comprehension questions, writing prompts and paper, vocabulary, social skills lessons, and more. Reading texts from our pumpkin books for kids list below and using educational book companion activities is a great alternative when you want to engage the children in your classroom with fun October projects without focusing on Halloween.

8 PUMPKIN PICTURE BOOKS TO READ ALOUD

pumpkin books for kids read alouds

THE RUNAWAY PUMPKIN

The Baxter boys find a huge pumpkin that they decide they need to have. However, once they cut the stem the pumpkin starts to roll down the hillside almost into the Baxter farm! It crashes through the pig sty, knocks Grandpa Baxter for a loop and finally ends up resting in the bed that Poppa Baxter plows for it. 

Once the pumpkin comes to a stop, the Baxter’s get excited about all the food that Granny can make from such a huge pumpkin. Come dinner time, she places all sorts of food on the table and sets up the giant jack-o-lantern she has made. 

Visit our blog post specifically for this book: The Runaway Pumpkin Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

 THE UGLY PUMPKIN

the ugly pumpkin book activities

The Ugly Pumpkin is a heartwarming story about a squash that thinks he is a pumpkin. He looks different than all the other pumpkins and is teased for the way he looks. No one will pick him up from the patch, he is kicked, and trees throw apples at him. As a result, he considers himself to be the ugly pumpkin and feels very lonely.

the ugly pumpkin worksheet beginning middle end

One day, the Ugly Pumpkin found his way into a garden and realized he was a squash! He found a group that looked just like him and he fit right in! In this happy ending, the ugly pumpkin, now a squash, enjoys a feast with his new family. 

Students will love this rhyming story about a pumpkin that doesn’t know he is actually a squash.

the ugly pumpkin activities compare and contrast

Visit our blog post specifically for this book: The Ugly Pumpkin Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

TOO MANY PUMPKINS

The story of Too Many Pumpkins is about a woman named Rebecca Estelle. As a child, Rebecca’s family did not have a lot of money and they had to eat pumpkin all the time. As a result, Rebecca grew to hate pumpkins and never wanted to eat them again. 

On her farm, Rebecca grew many different vegetables, but no pumpkins. One day, a truck drove by and a giant pumpkin fell into Rebecca’s yard. 

First, she tried to bury it, but come spring it started to grow vines. She tried to ignore the growing vines until she discovered that many pumpkins had grown in her yard. She decided to share the pumpkins with those that might be struggling. Eventually, Rebecca carved some of the pumpkins to attract her community, and was able to share all the pumpkin treats she had made.

Visit our blog post specifically for this book: Too Many Pumpkins Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

PUMPKIN SOUP

The story, Pumpkin Soup is about three friends; Cat, Squirrel, and Duck. They live together in an old, white cabin, and always make pumpkin soup. Each character has a specific role in creating the soup. The Cat slices the pumpkin, Squirrel stirs in the water, and Duck adds the salt. One day, Duck decides that he would like a turn at stirring. This causes a huge fight between the three friends, and Duck leaves the cabin. 

At first, Squirrel and Cat are angry at the Duck. Eventually, they grow sad and miss their friend, and go out to look for him. As they look for him, they reflect on what kind of friends they were to him. They even worry that he found better friends that would let him help and have a turn. When they return to the cabin, they see that Duck is there! They let him have a turn at stirring and have delicious pumpkin soup. 

Pumpkin Soup worksheet

Visit our blog post specifically for this book: Pumpkin Soup Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

BIG PUMPKIN

The book Big Pumpkin tells the story of a witch who was growing a pumpkin. She wanted to use the pumpkin to make a pumpkin pie for Halloween. However, when she tries to get the pumpkin off the vine, she finds out it is stuck! Several characters, the mummy, ghost and vampire all try to help pull it off. Each one is bigger and stronger than the character before, but no one can get the pumpkin out. When a bat comes along, she suggests that they all work together to pull the pumpkin off the vine. Once everyone pulls the pumpkin together, they are able to free the pumpkin. The witch races home to make her pumpkin pie and shares it with everyone who helped.

Students will enjoy listening to this rhyming book with repeated phrases. 

Visit our blog post specifically for this book: Big Pumpkin Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

PUMPKIN TOWN

One fall day, Jose and his brothers picked out the best pumpkins seeds, and threw the smaller ones into the field at the edge of their farm. A gust of wind blew the seeds off the hill, and onto the town below. When spring came, vines started growing all around the town and soon enough pumpkins started growing everywhere around the town, even on rooftops. It was becoming difficult to move about the town. 

Jose and his brothers saw that the town looked different and went down to investigate. When they saw all the pumpkins, they realized what had happened and they returned to the town at night and removed all of the pumpkins and vines. When the townspeople found the tired brothers, they sent them home with 5 watermelons as a reward for their hard work. The townspeople were able to sell all of the pumpkins and build a statue to remember the 5 boys. Jose and his family enjoyed the watermelon and collected the seeds. Worried that the seeds would land in his fields, Jose threw the watermelon seeds over the hill and they settled all over the town. 

Visit our blog post specifically for this book: Pumpkin Town Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

PUMPKIN JACK

One day before Halloween, Tim carved his jack-o-lantern. It had a big silly smile and Tim thought it was perfect. He decided to name the pumpkin Jack, and it stayed in his room long after Halloween. Eventually, Tim’s mother told him it was time to get rid of the pumpkin as it was starting to rot. Rather than throwing it in the garbage, Tim left it outside in the garden. As the seasons changed, the pumpkin rotted and shriveled up into the ground. 

By the time spring came, all that was left was some pumpkin skin and seeds. Tim buried the seeds and soon a plant started to grow. Tim spent months weeding and watering his pumpkin plant. As Halloween got closer again, Tim had pumpkins growing in his garden! There were so many he was able to share them with his friends. Tim picked his own pumpkin and carved it into a jack-o-lantern. Once again, he named his Pumpkin Jack.

 Visit our blog post specifically for this book: Pumpkin Jack Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

LITTLE BOO

Little Boo is the story of a small pumpkin seed who just wants to be scary! He tries to scare leaves, a grub, and snowflakes with no success. As winter comes, the wind tells the seed that it is not time to scare just yet, he must be patient. She buries him in the dirt and the seed sleeps through the winter. 

pumpkin writing paper worksheet for the book Little Boo

He awakes to find that he has a sprout, but the wind reminds him to be patient. As he continues to grow from a seed, to a flower, and to a fruit, he is anxious to start scaring. The wind is always there to remind him it is not time yet. Finally, the seed has grown into a pumpkin. He is picked from the field and taken inside. Before long, he has been turned into a jack o’lantern and tries to scare a cat. The wind encourages him and tells him to keep trying. Finally, the pumpkin that used to be a seed, was ready to be scary.

pumpkin books for kids activities little boo worksheet

 Visit our blog post specifically for this book: Little Boo Lesson Ideas and Teaching Activities

PUMPKIN BOOKS FOR KIDS FREEBIE

In addition to this list of pumpkin books for kids, we have lots of other book lists with suggestions and activities for elementary teachers in 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade. You can get the book lists, monthly reading challenges and printable reading logs for free!

GET THE FREE OCTOBER READING RESOURCES

PUMPKIN BOOK ACTIVITIES

If you’re excited about teaching using pumpkin books for kids, Halloween read aloud stories, October children’s literature or fall picture books we have you covered with this October read aloud bundle from the Starts With a Story Collection.

List of October Read Aloud Picture Books for Kids
GET THE OCTOBER BOOK COMPANION BUNDLE
pumpkin books for kids reading comprehension activities

You may also be interested in the elementary teaching ideas these other October blog posts:

Halloween Mentor Texts

Haunted House for Sale Writing and Craft Projects

Pumpkin Book Reports

Spider Research Project

Category: October, Seasonal

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

HALLOWEEN BOOKS FOR KIDS

St. Patrick’s Day Activites and Read Aloud Bulletin Board Ideas

Valentine’s Day Project Based Learning

Gingerbread Man Activities and Ideas

Reindeer Activities and Ideas

CONSTITUTION DAY ACTIVITIES, IDEAS, BOOKS and PRINTABLES

BACK TO SCHOOL

Christmas Writing Prompt Activities: How to Wrap a Present

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS MATH and WRITING ACTIVITIES

Christmas in Brazil: Holidays Around the World for Kids

Holiday Celebrations Around the World: Chinese New Year

Hanukkah Facts for Kids for a Holidays Around the World Unit

Previous Post: « Fourth Grade Math Activities
Next Post: HALLOWEEN BOOKS FOR KIDS »

Primary Sidebar

I’m Jodi. It’s an honor to support you in your teaching.

Learn More

Search the Site

Browse the Blog

Literacy
Instruction

Science &
Social Studies

Teacher Organization

Social Emotional Learning

Teaching
Math

Social Emotional Learning

Classroom Management

Classroom
Design

Shop Teaching Resources

  • All Resources
  • 1st Grade
  • 2nd Grade
  • 3rd Grade
  • 4th Grade
  • 5th Grade
  • Sub Plans
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Save with Bundles
Menu
  • All Resources
  • 1st Grade
  • 2nd Grade
  • 3rd Grade
  • 4th Grade
  • 5th Grade
  • Sub Plans
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Save with Bundles

Free Resources for 1st-5th Grade Teachers

Where should I send your free printables each week?

Footer

This shows the free classroom decor guide which shares tips for elementary teachers to set up their classroom on a budget.

Do you love planning for the new school year?

Get started with our FREE Classroom Decor tips and ideas!

Site Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosures

Copyright © 2021 · Jodi Durgin · Website by KristenDoyle.co