Enjoy the wonderful story “The Biggest Pumpkin Ever” with your preschooler. Then try some activities inspired by the book. Includes art projects, measuring activities, fingerplays and some free printable mice puppets.
We’ve got a wonderful book for you to enjoy with your preschooler. This is a great book to read any time of year, but it is a perfect for Fall.
Introducing THE BIGGEST PUMPKIN EVER by Steven Kroll.
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever is a delightful tale about two mice that choose the same pumpkin to care for. Desmond thinks it would be a fine idea to carve the pumpkin into the biggest jack-o’-lantern you have ever seen. Clayton wants to enter the Biggest Pumpkin contest.
The two mice take care of the same pumpkin at different times of day, so they have no idea that their pumpkin is getting double the care.
One frosty night they both turn up with blankets to cover their prize pumpkin and realize that they have both been taking care of it. The two mice decide to work together to grow the biggest pumpkin ever!
KIDS LOVE THIS BOOK
There is something about pumpkins that really appeals to preschoolers. They enjoy watching the pumpkin grow larger and larger throughout the story and they love it when the two small mice meet on that frosty night. The best part is when a hundred mice appear on motorcycles pulling the ginormous pumpkin to the competition. For some reason kids find this very funny. Actually I must admit I laughed out loud the first time I read that page. There is just something delightful about mice on motorcycles.
The illustrations are wonderful and the story has a lovely gentle pace. I particularly like the way these two mice work together and find a way to share the enormous pumpkin, so they both get their wish. It is a delightful tale of cooperation and is perfect for preschoolers.
WHEN YOU ARE READING
Take your time with this book. Enjoy the illustrations and encourage your child to tell you what they see in the pictures. Ask questions like
- How big do you think the pumpkin will grow?
- Why do you think both mice chose that particular pumpkin?
- Why is that pumpkin growing bigger than all the others?
- What do you think will happen next?
- What would you do if you had an enormous pumpkin?
ENJOY SOME PUMPKIN SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS
Child fun has a wonderful selection of pumpkin fingerplays, songs and games.
PUMPKIN MEASURING ACTIVITIES
In the story you see many pictures of the pumpkin growing larger and larger. Show your child how to use a ruler to measure how much it has grown.
Take a trip to buy or pick a pumpkin. When you get home, take the measurements of a real pumpkin.
- Measure how big a round it is.
- Measure how tall it is.
- Put it on a scale to weigh it.
IMAGINATIVE PLAY
- Pretend to plant a pumpkin and care for the growing plant.
- Pretend to be a growing pumpkin. How large can you grow?
FREE PRINTABLE STICK PUPPETS
We’ve created some cute puppets to use alongside this wonderful book. The printable has two mice puppets and a pumpkin. The puppets are available in black and white or full color.
Materials:
- Puppet printable (get below)
- Tape
- Craft sticks
- Laminator (optional)
Instructions
- Get and print the page of puppets you want to use.
- If you are using the black and white puppets, invite your child to colour them in.
- Laminate (optional)
- Cut out the puppets and tape onto a craft stick.
Now you are ready to play. Use the puppets to retell the story or make up your own story.
Get your printable here.
MORE PUMPKIN ACTIVITIES
- Pumpkin Life Cycle
- How to Carve a Pumpkin With Kids
- Pumpkin Patch Shape
- Happy Sad Pumpkin Finger Painting
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