Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle

Amanda Lauer reviews a new picture book from Paraclete Press that emphasizes the importance of friendship and gratitude.

Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle: A Celebration of Friendship and Thanksgiving

By Laura Sassi; illustrated by Farah Shah

Published by Paraclete Press

I love seasonal books for children, particularly in autumn, so I was delighted to review Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, written by Laura Sassi and illustrated by Farah Shah, which was recently released by Paraclete Press.

Pumpkin Day cover

The back of the book offers a brief synopsis:

When a windy mishap sweeps away Boo’s invitation to Belle’s Annual Pumpkin Tea, confusion and disappointment soon follow. Will these two friends let some missing mail dampen their spirits? Or will friendship and thankful hearts prevail?

This is a sweet tale and engaging for toddlers and preschoolers. The first day I introduced this to our 4-year-old granddaughter, we ended up reading it five or six times. After the first reading, Lena was particularly interested in the map at the beginning of the book that showed the village where Boo and Belle lived. She referenced that several times as we read through it.

null

Sassi’s poetry makes this fun to read, and Shah’s illustrations are adorable — the muted colors are ideal for harvest time when it’s cool and blustery outdoors, but warm and cozy inside. Each page had so much to look at, including the other forest animals and the trail of the wayward invitation to Belle’s Pumpkin Tea.

Characters Children Can Relate To

Lena asked many questions as I read the book to her, each time delving deeper into the story. It was enjoyable watching her take everything in. She had empathy for Belle, the optimistic bunny, who thought that Boo was being rude for skipping her annual party. But she also had empathy for Boo, the pessimistic chipmunk, who felt hurt that he hadn’t been invited to the yearly celebration. Spoiler alert: Their mutual friend comes to the rescue, and the day is saved and concludes with a tea party for three.

Based on Psalm 118:24, Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle invites children to celebrate the simple joys of life and the love and gratitude that come with each day. It certainly allowed Lena and me to talk about misunderstandings and thankfulness. Hopefully, you’ll be able to share a similar experience when you read this book with your little one.

null

Ask for Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Paraclete Press.

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle