Every Autumn strange figures start appearing around the town of Kentville, Nova Scotia, sauntering down the sidewalk, sitting in a tree, cavorting on a lawn-who are these peculiar people? Why, they're the Pumpkin People! Constructed from cornstalks, straw, and, of course, pumpkins, these folkloric figures are put together every year to celebrate the harvest in the Annapolis Valley in a most creative way. Pumpkin People tells the tale of Kentville's famous pumpkin people. Sandra Lightburn's simple verse reveals the secret world of the half-funny, half-spooky figures; Ron Lightburn's stunning illustrations bring that secret world to life. And a special section in the back teaches pumpkin fans young and old how to build their own pumpkin person!
Sandra Lightburn is a children's writer who lives in the Annapolis Valley. Her first book, Driftwood Cove, won the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize for text and illustration and was shortlisted for the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature. Ron Lightburn's career as a children's book illustrator was launched with his Governor General's Award-winning artwork for Waiting for the Whales in 1991. Since then he has illustrated numerous other bestselling picture books and has become internationally renowned for his sensitive storytelling skills and range of illustration styles.
Reviews:
“The Lightburns present a richly coloured and cheerful vision of the night’s doings…intriguing similarity to the “wild rumpus” of Maurice Sendak’s classic Where the Wild Things Are.” —Quill & Quire
"From the end-papers through the different styles of delightful artwork, this book is a Canadiana gem...I loved this book." —Resource Links
"With Ron crafting vibrant, captivating visuals and Sandra laying lines of sweet and playful rhyme, the award-winning team has captured the spirit of Kentville’s lighthearted tradition. Each page of the book holds a new mood to carry readers through the story. Scenes of homey familiarity give way to spooky pumpkin silhouettes and a lively fire-lit ceilidh. Detail throughout the book gives those sharing the tale a rewarding experience, whether the book is a new endeavour or evolves into a much-read storytime favourite." — Kings County Register