Meissner, Susan. Pumpkin Day at the Zoo. Illustrated by Pablo Pino. Nashville, TN: Tommy Nelson, 2023.

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Summary of Pumpkin Day at the Zoo

When farmers and pumpkin patch owners donate their pumpkins to the zoo, the animals chomp, chew, play, and give hearty hoorays for their favorite squishy squash! Grab a pumpkin and follow along as this lighthearted, lyrical zoo book for preschoolers and elementary-age kids from bestselling novelist Susan Meissner celebrates the fall season in the most entertaining way.

Here come the wagons down the streets, rumbling and tumbling with pumpkin treats! Kids will love watching the zoo animals enjoy their autumn snack in this educational, rhyming story.

With lively artwork from illustrator Pablo Pino, Pumpkin Day at the Zoo

• is ideal for ages 4–8;
• is recommended for classrooms and libraries focused on animal life, fall festivities, and generosity;
• shows kids the importance of donating and repurposing excess; and
• is the perfect gift for National Pumpkin Day, back-to-school celebrations, Halloween, or Thanksgiving.

Both humorous and educational, Pumpkin Day at the Zoo applauds all the good that comes from sharing in your community.

Purchase Pumpkin Day at the Zoo on Amazon

My Kid Review of Pumpkin Day at the Zoo

Pumpkins abound in the fall. Jack-o-lanterns and other yard decor. But what do you do with them once they start to get soft and mushy? Some zoos have a pumpkin day in the fall to give you a place to dispose of them. I did not realize before reading this book that so many of the animals at the zoo will eat pumpkins.

Susan Meissner has written a delightful picture book about this concept. The book highlights a day at a zoo when the community brings in their old pumpkins to share with all the animals. The rhythmic text brings in many of the animals you’ll find at the zoo. 

Pablo Pino’s illustrations are very whimsical and creative. I loved how he portrayed the different animals and how they used the pumpkins.

Pumpkin Day at the Zoo would be a great addition to the picture book section of a K-12 Christian school library. It would also be good for classroom or family libraries.

I received a complimentary copy of Pumpkin Day at the Zoo. This is my honest review.

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