I absolutely loved this book.

Lulu just wants a proper bedtime story, but her granny isn’t very good at telling them. What follows is a funny, warm hearted tale about an unusual pumpkin, a magical wish and the power of imagination.

The relationship between Lulu and her granny is lovely, the story is full of humour and charm, and the illustrations are beautiful. It made me smile all the way through.

A delightful story that would be perfect for sharing at bedtime or in the classroom.

I absolutely love this seasonal children’s read! It’s so different to the usual autumn / fall / Halloween books.
It’s a story of self belief and love. It’s good to be unusual! You don’t need to change to be like everybody else! Unusual doesn’t mean ugly.
I will be adding this to my daughter’s collection once it comes out.
The illustrations are gorgeous as well.
A beautiful story with a beautiful meaning.

This is the most magical, autumn-themed, kids' read that you will have this year. We read it several times in one sitting! The illustrations were incredible, and the eccentric nature of the storytellers was a breath of fresh air. I hope everyone has an opportunity to read this book. If i could give this star more than five stars, I would.

I absolutely loved the setting and style of this book! It had both quirky story telling and illustrations that were so fun and different than other children's books that I've come across. This is a great pick for the Fall!

This fun children’s book is wonderful! It tells us about a girl named Lulu that helps her grandmother tell bedtime stories. She asks questions and turns the “ugly” pumpkin into an unusual one! The illustrations are fantastic and really give the story character. I can’t wait to read this to my grandkids, and I hope they help me too! :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What fun illustrations! Great moral to this story- unusual is not bad; different means new possibilities! I love children's books that include a child interacting with the story- it compels kids listening, or reading, to think "what would I do in their place?". Those kinds of imagination sparks make the best bedtime stories as we drift off wondering what vegetable would make the best restaurant, if stars are jack-o-lanterns, and if they, too, will grow up to grant wishes one day.

This is a very sweet story about a little girl helping her grandmother tell a story about a pumpkin. The pictures were beautiful and the story was so cute. Also it wasn’t necessarily Halloween or fall themed so this book could really be read any time of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love the illustrations of this one and the story is incredibly sweet. We follow a young girl who wants her grandma to learn to be a better story teller, so she begins asking questions about the usually straightforward tales her grandma usually tells. What ensues is a fun and wondrous storybook tale. Both my kids and I adored this book. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Very Unusual Pumpkin is an adorable picture book that young readers can enjoy by themselves or with the adults in their lives! This book is a story within a story, which I find to be a fun format for picture books. I love the way that the pumpkins story features colorful illustrations against a black background! This element helps visually differentiate between the stories and adds a unique and interesting contrast to the illustrations. The story flowed very well and honestly took a different turn than I was anticipating, which I think will thrill young readers.

This book will be a fun read for fall and Halloween, but could definitely be enjoyed at any time of year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to review this title.

The Very Unusual Pumpkin is beautiful! Definitely in my top 10 of children’s books. This book explores what happens if we were to allow our children to help improve our story telling! The illustrations are mesmerizing as well!

What a heartfelt story between a grandmother and her granddaughter. I loved how they each added to the story as it progressed. The granddaughter demonstrated kindness and empathy towards the pumpkin for being unusual. Would be a great addition to anyone's fall TBR.

*I received a copy of this audiobook on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

The very unusual pumpkin is a story about a grandmother and her granddaughter creating a bedtime story together. The art is cute and the story not overly complicated but has a sweet ending. My 5 year old daughter rated it a 5/5.

Thank you to Astra Publishing House (Hippo Park) and the author for an advanced copy of this title.

The Very Unusual Pumpkin by Marilyn Singer is a delightful autumn read that takes a familiar fall symbol and transforms it into something wonderfully unexpected. What begins as a simple story about a pumpkin quickly becomes something magical — and that element of surprise is exactly what makes it so memorable for both children and adults.

Singer's playful, rhythmic writing flows naturally and keeps young readers hooked from start to finish. The story is not quite what you'd expect, and that's precisely its charm. The way it builds and evolves — turning something "ugly" & "unusual" into something beautiful — is a clever and heartwarming touch that really resonates. It's a great reminder that the best stories don't have to be perfect; they just need to be shared and explored together.

The illustrations are a true highlight, beautifully complementing the storytelling and bringing every page to life. They add so much warmth and energy to the book, keeping little ones engaged throughout.

At its heart, this is a story about curiosity, creativity, and embracing the unexpected — themes that make it far more than just a seasonal picture book. It's a wonderful choice for read-alouds, whether at home or in the classroom, and works brilliantly across a range of ages.

Highly recommended — this one is sure to become a beloved fall tradition for families everywhere.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this wonderful book to my little. It was sweet that Lulu showed appreciation to her Grandma for telling her a story every night, but it was even cuter that Lulu decided to add to the story. It's so fun to use your imagination, and for Lulu and Judy to be able to create an even better story together was very heartwarming. I love that it encourages reading to your children before bed, and the impact a teacher at school can have on a child. This book is a 5 out of 5 all the way. It is very colorful and eye catching.

Marilyn Singer’s The Very Unusual Pumpkin is an absolute delight and a perfect seasonal read that stands out from typical fall stories. The book takes a familiar autumn symbol—a pumpkin—and transforms it into something wonderfully unexpected. Singer’s playful, rhythmic writing keeps the story engaging, while the twist in the pumpkin’s journey adds a layer of surprise that makes it memorable for both children and adults.

The storytelling is complemented beautifully by vibrant illustrations that capture the magic and curiosity of the season. Each page invites readers to look a little closer and wonder what might happen next. It’s a fantastic choice for read-aloud sessions, as the pacing and language flow naturally and keep young listeners hooked.

What makes this book truly shine is its subtle message about embracing the unusual and finding joy in surprises. It encourages creativity and curiosity, making it more than just a festive story—it’s one that sparks imagination.

Overall, The Very Unusual Pumpkin is a charming, clever, and heartwarming book that earns a well-deserved five stars. It’s sure to become a favorite fall tradition for families and classrooms alike.

My son is a huge fan of pumpkins, so I knew we had to read this one! And he loved it! He loved the "unusual" pumpkin and how the story progressed (don't want to spoil anything - but we're a huge Disney family, so he was really into it! LOL)

Grandma Judy is trying to tell a simple bedtime story but Lulu keeps asking questions and things get 'unusual' for the unique, pear shaped pumpkin in the story. This book is very wholesome and the end is so cute. I really enjoyed the illustrations as well. They are very cozy and fit the story well. I love that Lulu corrects Grandma about the pumpkin being unusual and not 'ugly'.

This was such a fun and heartwarming read. The Very Unusual Pumpkin is all about imagination, curiosity, and the sweet dynamic between Lulu and her grandma. What starts as a simple (and honestly kind of boring) story about a pumpkin quickly turns into something magical, just by asking a few “why” questions.

I read this with my 4- and 8-year-old granddaughters, and they both really got into it. They loved how the story kept building and changing, and the idea of turning something “ugly” into something “unusual” really stuck with them. The artwork is beautiful and adds so much to the storytelling—it kept their attention the whole time.

It’s a great reminder that storytelling doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be shared and explored together.

5 stars from the girls—such a cute, creative read.

I love to read Halloween books and was sure this would be one of those "the pumpkin was ugly but he showed some special gift that he had and soon everyone adored him" stories. Wrong! This has much more!

Lulu's grandmother isn't a very inventive storyteller so Lulu guides her along to create a wonderful pumpkin story. This pumpkin turns into a fairy godmother who turns other pumpkins into magical creatures. who do wonderful things.

Very satisfying! I plan to buy copies for our grandchildren this fall.

this book made me smile and smile and smile. the message, the writing, the illustrations, the vibrant colors, and i loved loved lovedd the ending. i have a nephew that makes me think of the little girl in this book; he has so many ideas and opinions and you can't tell him a story without him giving suggestions. i read this to him and he lovedddd it (it's definitely his favorite book i've brought over so far). he thought the little girl was smart and the grandma was nice and "trying her best" (lol), and he loved finding all the pumpkin people she described at the end illustrated in their new jobs. 10/10, we're both big fans. will purchase a copy for them when this releases.

As a Momma of a three year old who feels like I too am like the grandma and I am missing the sparkle of a interesting story it was nice to see how the bond between them turned it into something magical. Just like play time does as well with my little one. The world is so much more interesting when we can enter into their world or channel our inner child. We absolutely loved the art and cozy story.