The Very Unusual Pumpkin

About this book

A Publishers Weekly Fall 2026 Indie Press Pick for Young Readers Lulu teaches Grandma how to be a better storyteller in this sly, tenderhearted picture book about learning from each other through humor, imagination, and conversation. Perfect for young readers ages 4-8. Everyone's grandma is good at telling stories...except for Lulu's, that is. So Lulu decides to step in and help! Lulu's method is asking questions. So when Grandma tells what seems like a mundane story of an ugly pumpkin sitting in a field, Lulu asks: "Why was the pumpkin ugly?" Grandma's answer sparks Lulu's imagination, and she tells Grandma: "That's not ugly! It's unusual!" And the two are off on a storytelling adventure! With a little creativity and improvisation, together Lulu and Grandma spin a full, refreshing narrative about a pumpkin and a fairy godmother-as well as the nature of storytelling itself. With its resonant theme that great stories are the result of genuine curiosity and dialogue, The Very Unusual Pumpkin is bound to become a bedtime staple.