Literacy Letters Ms. Khristian
Module 1 Blog
Hey Loves,
This week I read The Runaway Pumpkin (2003). This book is a fictional rhyming picture book written by Kevin Lewis and illustrated by S.D. Schindler. I chose this book because it is a fun, high-energy fall story that children absolutely love. The rhythm and rhyme make it an engaging read-aloud, and the humor of the runaway pumpkin rolling down the hill keeps listeners excited from beginning to end.
The story follows the Baxter siblings—Buck, Billy, and Lil—who find an enormous pumpkin on their family’s hillside farm. Ignoring Grandpa Baxter’s warning, they push it loose, and it begins rolling downhill, bouncing, thumping, and crashing through everything in its path! Eventually, the pumpkin comes to rest near the barn, and the family works together to turn it into a delicious pumpkin feast. The playful text and rhythmic pattern make this story perfect for predicting, sequencing, and enjoying as a seasonal favorite.
The Runaway Pumpkin can be found on many fall-themed children’s literature lists and is often used in classrooms for its strong rhyming patterns and connection to harvest themes. It’s an excellent resource for teaching rhyming words, motion and force, and cause and effect. After reading, children can participate in sequencing activities, retelling the story with props, or even exploring science concepts like gravity and motion.
I would ask students questions such as, “What do you think will happen when the pumpkin starts to roll?” and “How did the Baxter family solve their problem after the pumpkin stopped?” I might also ask, “If you were part of the Baxter family, what would you have done differently?” These questions encourage prediction, inference, and critical thinking through problem-solving.
This is a delightful fall story full of rhythm, humor, and teamwork. I highly recommend it as a seasonal classroom read-aloud!
Happy reading,
Khristian
Module 2 Blog:
I feel like this story sounds familiar, but I do not remember it entirely! Thank you for bringing this book to my attention. I have been looking for fall books to read to my class, and I know they would find this one funny!
ReplyDeleteKhristian, I haven't thought about this story in so long. I remember reading it to my Pre-K students. They thought it was so funny and loved the rhyme scheme. I'm so glad that you shared this story.
ReplyDeleteHi Khristian! I enjoyed reading your post. This sound like such a fun book to use when teaching rhyming. I will have to add this to my book collection for my Pre-K classroom. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Khristian,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your reflections on The Runaway Pumpkin! I love how you highlighted the rhythm and rhyme as a way to keep students engaged — rhyming picture books are such a fun way to practice prediction and sequencing while keeping the energy high. The story sounds like a perfect fall read-aloud, and I can imagine students laughing at the pumpkin rolling down the hill!
I also appreciate how you connected the story to science concepts like motion and gravity, as well as problem-solving with the Baxter family. Your discussion questions are great for encouraging students to think critically and make personal connections to the story.
This post reminded me of how effective seasonal stories can be for combining literacy skills with hands-on activities, and it makes me want to add this one to my fall read-aloud list. Thanks for sharing!
Hannah