Pumpkin Dad

On All Hallow’s Eve, witch-costumed child Ellis casts “Abracadabra”s around a napping Dad, who pranks the child by placing a pumpkin in his spot when Ellis isn’t looking. Marker-like cartoons on white backgrounds chronicle how Ellis frantically tries to rush “Pumpkin Dad” to the hospital, only to have the gourd roll out of a wagon—and into the local Pumpkin Festival. As Ellis begs folks not to turn possible Dads into various pumpkin products, readers can spot the real father in hot pursuit, desperately seeking the concerned child. The sweetly affirming ending finds Ellis’s reverse “spell” seemingly doing the trick—suggesting that sometimes the most practical magic is letting young witches’ hocus-pocus run its course. Protagonists are portrayed with pink skin; background characters are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 3–5. (July)