So cute! I loved the whimsical illustrations. I liked the unconventional animal characters. The book showing the lifecycle of a pumpkin was informative and possibly gave kids ideas that they can decorate pumpkins in alternative ways. Fun read and perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

I really enjoyed this book and think younger audiences will as well. As somebody who has trouble letting things go (and has kids who also have trouble letting things go), this book would have made me feel very seen as a child. It can also show kids that although something disappointing may happen beyond our control, it’s not the end of the world and we can move forward. A great lesson without being preachy!

The illustrations were very cute and cozy and not the autumn vibe of the story well.

Very cute little kids book 5/5

I love reading kids' book. Whether looking for books to bring into the classroom as a mentor text or looking for books to read to my 2 year old, I truly enjoy them. The Pumpkin Who Stayed for Christmas
by Kelley M Likes, did not disappoint. Its pretty much about a badger that picks a pumpkin that stays through the different holidays but when you think the pumpkin is gone there is a little surprise. I'd recommend it for the younger kids. My 2 year old would love it. Thanks #netgally for letting me read this book. #thepumpkinthatstayedforchristmas

A sweet story of choosing your pumpkins and holding your love for them (and Halloween) all year long. With helpful reminders it’s ok to say goodbye to your pumpkin when it’s time to compost them, little kids are sure to enjoy the adorable pumpkin story.

This book was a little too simplistic for 7 year old but will be very cute for much younger kids. The illustrations were also very cute!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.
Thank you to Kelley M. Likes for writing about the pumpkin who stayed for Christmas.
And thank you to Hannah Staley-Foster for the wonderful illustrations.

Rating: 5 stars

A little badger decides to keep his smiling pumpkin for more than just Thanksgiving.
Really easy and quick read. Appropriate writing for young kids. Ideal for kids that do not want to easily let things go.

The story was unique and the illustrations were good. But it wasn't a book that I would reread to children. It's a good idea for kids who don't want to carve a pumpkin. Would this be filed in a children's library with the Halloween or Christmas books?

Perfect! My EYFS classes will love this when we’re back at school! There’s so many lessons I can make from this book too which is brilliant as a supply teacher!

What an adorable book! This is the story of a pumpkin with a smile who doesn't get carved for Halloween - he stays around past Christmas. The illustrations are fantastic and the ending is cute and hopeful. It reminds me a lot of the book Sophie's Squash, which my kids also enjoyed - but a bit less emotional, which I actually appreciated. My 6-year-old loved it, and I did too!

For some reason this website won't let me give 11 stars. Must be broken. I absolutely loved this book. Of course, I threw away my kid's pumpkin last week, and it's August, so I'm extremely biased when it comes to a kids book about keeping your pumpkin year-round. The illustration of this little badger kid dressing his smiling pumpkin up for all the major holidays: chef's kiss! Oh, and the pumpkin patch is run by emus. The deer family composts. I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really adorable book. The fusion of the two holidays was really fun and the pictures are really cute!

Thank you so much to Likes Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

It’s time to choose a pumpkin for Halloween, each Badger child chooses the one they wanted the most. The youngest chooses the happiest pumpkin, but as the season changes they don’t want to say goodbye as it’s still smiling, so the pumpkin stays for Christmas.

Utterly adorable, I loved how the badger child was so attached to their pumpkin, and how it kept getting new costumes given to it. It was always in pride of place as it meant alot to them. It was really so sweet how attached to the pumpkin the badger child was.

I liked how it shared about composting and being sustainable with your produce. That was really sweet and very important to share with young children about. The illustrations within this book were really nice, I loved seeing the Badger family, the Emus, the Deers and also how the pumpkin got moved and dressed up each time, was so cute.

A really sweet picture book, a perfect cozy and lovely read for the Halloween season. It’s got nice lessons within it, but ultimately just an incredibly sweet story. A wonderful read with young readers.

I truly adored this book. The illustrations are wonderful, and the author did such a great job portraying the story of how this little carved pumpkin hung on through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. (Which, honestly, is longer than most real pumpkins survive. LOL) My two grandchildren, ages 5 and 3, would LOVE this book, and I will definitely buy a copy for them and also one for my library. Very well done!

This book and its story are too cute!

What I picked up from the story: gentle lessons in letting go, detaching from things, embracing renewed happiness and of course, composting! All these meaningful themes were delivered in a way that's both fun and informative.

Loved the illustrations and the characters. They were all so adorable and each one added charm and heart to the story.

This is a quick and cute book about a badger that wants to keep his pumpkin for as long as possible.

There was a weird time jump, where it was Christmas and me and my daughter thought the pumpkin got smashed at that time, but the next page they were walking outside without snow. We also didn't notice that at that time the seeds were scattered, and had to flip back because we didn't know how they got there. This could have been due to the really light colours that are used in this book, but it does give it a whimsical feel.

This is a charming holiday story by Kelley M. Likes, and beautifully illustrated by Hannah Staley-Foster. It takes a thoughtful look at how clinging to joy can help us grow, and why sometimes, when the moment is right, letting go can open the door to fresh starts.

Even though the timeline leaves out some details (like how the pumpkin ends up in the front yard), it really opens the door for some creative thinking.

I loved the composting metaphor and the eco-friendly vibe, and younger readers will definitely be drawn in by this warm illustrations and delightful story. The story is a sweet and thoughtful read for kids, especially those who love to be creative and use their imagination. It’s perfect for sharing out loud together.

Adorable story about a pumpkin who stays for Christmas. I like how the main character took care of the pumpkin showing caring and empathy. Definitely a cute story I would recommend. I only wish the ending for the pumpkin was a bit different....:-)
Thank you to NetGalley and LikesPublishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The story begins right after Halloween, when most people toss away their pumpkins. But one round smiley pumpkin which is found by young badger, is left behind on a porch. As the days grow colder and the holiday season approaches, the pumpkin watches decorations for Thanksgiving come and go, and then—Christmas lights begin to twinkle.

Instead of being discarded, the pumpkin is gradually accepted as part of the festive scene by the badger family. By the time Christmas arrives, it’s no longer "just" a pumpkin—it's wearing a Santa hat, covered in snow, and fully embraced as part of the family’s decorations.

A really sweet cozy book for upcoming fall season.

A fun Christmas read that brings a new style of story to our regular Christmas books. Highly recommended to my friends and family

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Pumpkin Who Stayed for Christmas is a sweet story for children about a badger child who goes to a pumpkin patch with his siblings to pick their perfect pumpkins for Halloween. He picks his because it already has a smile, and he doesn't carve it and just draws on eyes. Because he didn't carve it his pumpkin lasts for months and gets a special place on the fireplace. Bit one day there's an accident and the pumpkin has finally had its day. But the badger child doesn't forget the pumpkin, and when Halloween comes around again, both he and his siblings find the most perfect smiling pumpkins to treasure again.
This is such a sweet book, and the illustrations are so adorable. The book includes things such as composting, which was a great inclusion for children to learn about.

The Pumpkin Who Stayed for Christmas by Kelley M. Likes is a heartwarming picture book that follows a young badger's decision to keep a smiling pumpkin through the holiday season. The story gently explores themes of friendship, imagination, and the bittersweet joy of letting go. With cozy illustrations by Hannah Staley-Foster, it captures the charm of autumn and winter traditions. The narrative encourages readers to cherish fleeting moments and find magic in the everyday. Ideal for children aged 6 to 7, this book offers a delightful seasonal read.

I read this to my 2 year old and she loved it. She has fallen in love with books about pumpkins and this is one we need to add to her shelf. Definitely a absolute must read.