Zoe Hall

Two Halloween-loving siblings cultivate a field of pumpkins in this seasonal picture-book from author Zoe Hall and illustrator Sheri Halpern. They plant the seeds, water the seedlings, and watch as the pumpkins slowly grow. Eventually, when the time is right, they harvest the pumpkins and turn them into jack-o-lanterns, getting ready for the big night when they go trick-or-treating...

Published in 1994, It's Pumpkin Time! was the first of four picture-book collaborations between Hall and show more Halpern, of which I had already read one, The Apple Pie Tree. Having enjoyed that subsequent title, I picked this one up with anticipation, and was not disappointed. It's quite simple, and clearly aimed at younger children, but I appreciated the way in which the narrative shows the entire process whereby pumpkins are grown, rather than just the harvest time, which books of this sort often choose as their focus. In this sense, it was quite similar to The Apple Pie Tree, which was autumnal in feeling, but also covered the entire year in an apple tree's growth. The accompanying paper collage artwork from Halpern was colorful and appealing, in a folksy way. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for autumnal and/or Halloween stories. show less

Two brothers eagerly await their favorite season in this autumnal picture-book, watching the leaves for signs that they are turning colors. Collecting the leaves, explaining their different shapes, gathering them into piles to jump on - these boys truly love the fall...

The third picture from from author Zoe Hall and illustrator Sheri Halpern that I have read, after The Apple Pie Tree and It's Pumpkin Time!, that is devoted to the beauties of autumn, Fall Leaves Fall! pairs a simple text with show more colorful, collage-style illustrations. I don't know that this is the strongest of the is team's picture-books - The Apple Pie Tree is probably the best, of the three I have read thus far - but it still makes for an engaging autumnal picture-book for younger audiences, ages two through six, I'd say. show less

A group of youngsters plant a 'surprise garden' in this picture-book from author Zoe Hall and illustrator Shari Halpern, waiting to see what will grow from the unknown seeds they have sown. Each plant that flowers and then produces a vegetable is a surprise, and in the end they enjoy the bounty of their garden, having a surprise garden party...

Hall and Halpern produced four picture-books together, three of which - It's Pumpkin Time!, The Apple Pie Tree and Fall Leaves Fall - had an autumn show more theme. The Surprise Garden, which is the fourth and final book from this team that I have picked up, has more of a spring and summer theme. It pairs a simple text with bright, collage-style artwork, and includes a brief afterword showing which vegetable came from which seed. Although not my favorite, of the Hall and Halpern books - that honor goes to the lovely The Apple Pie Tree - this was engaging, and is one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for stories about gardening, and eating the produce of a garden. show less

Two sisters observe their apple tree through the seasons in this charming picture-book for younger children, delighting in the robin's nest in its branches, admiring its soft pink blossoms and growing fruit, and playing in its welcome shade. When fall comes, and the apples are ready for picking, the girls enlist their parents' help in making an apple pie - a treat that is all the sweeter for having been "grown" in their own backyard...

With a simple text of no more than a sentence or two per show more page, and lovely collage art that holds the attention, The Apple Pie Tree is an ideal choice for introducing preschoolers to the beauties of nature, and the joys of home-cooking. A brief afterword includes more detailed information about the process of pollination, as well as the author's own recipe for apple pie. All in all, a sweet little book, one I would recommend particularly for use in the fall, when it's apple-picking season. show less