(2) PS Illustrated by Samara Hardy. "Let's help Amara find her pumpkins!" suggests the offstage narrator as our young, brown-skinned, overalls-wearing protagonist searches her farm. Brief, declarative answers to the refrain "Is that a pumpkin?" help listeners discern the similarities and differences between pumpkins and the other produce (including potentially unfamiliar persimmons, okra, kumquats, etc.): "That's a persimmon. A persimmon is orange, but it has a smooth, waxy skin and no ribs." Finally, Amara finds her pumpkins...just in time for an autumn potluck. The repetition in Brown-Wood's engaging, informative text reinforces comprehension, while Hardy's digital illustrations, featuring hand-painted ink and watercolor textures for added depth, provide a festive atmosphere with their vibrant autumnal hues. A recipe for molasses pumpkin bread is appended.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021