FICTION

Little Brother Pumpkin Head

by Lucia PANZIERI
tr. from Italian by Grace Maccarone. illus. by Samantha Enria. 32p. Holiday House. Oct. 2016. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9780823435371.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—This Italian import about expecting a younger sibling is a great read for the observant child. The unnamed protagonist is told that a little brother is on the way, and he starts to notice his mom doing strange things like singing to her belly on the bus, craving foods made with pumpkin, and falling asleep even while reading bedtime stories. Nothing fails to go unnoticed, and the boy begins to have surreal dreams that his brother's round head will be filled with seeds and pulp. The young hero is determined to introduce his baby brother to the sounds and objects awaiting him in the world. The stylized cartoon illustrations perfectly capture this lighthearted story.
VERDICT A great addition to collections where titles about new babies and younger siblings are in demand.
Reviewed by Shana Morales, Windsor Public Library, CT
A boy looks forward to his new brother's birth, but he worries that his mother's obsession with pumpkin-flavored foods will result in the baby having a pumpkin for a head, with nothing inside but seeds. His mission: to fill the baby's head with sounds and stories instead. The first-person text conveys the boy's sweet, protective attitude; digital illustrations portray a happy, healthy growing family.
 , Oct 01, 2016

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