  | Lilly's surprise pumpkins Author: Charles, Beth | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
When last year's composted jack-o'-lanterns surprise Lily by sprouting new pumpkins, she lovingly tends her unexpected garden all summer long, and when harvest time finally arrives, she discovers that the greatest joy is sharing her bounty with others.
| Illustrator: | Aronson, Anna |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/01/26)
School Library Journal (05/29/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/29/2026 PreS-Gr 2—Lilly, a young girl with tan skin, is surprised when she and her parents find pumpkin vines growing in their compost heap. Lilly's dad, who has brown skin, explains that the pumpkin seeds "volunteered." That is, they grew from seeds that the family did not plant. The pumpkins grow, and Lilly is careful to take good care of them. She's rewarded with big, beautiful pumpkins. The cheerfully exuberant artwork is a perfect match, filling in the spaces of what happens during a pumpkin's life cycle. Lilly's help is also well documented and offers excellent opportunities for discussion about how humans can help plants. This is a lovely book for teaching about the life cycle of plants or plant care, or as inspiration to start a garden. VERDICT A strong choice for any library needing picture books about gardening or the life cycle of plants.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
