The Biggest Pumpkin Ever is part of our Starts With a Story Collection, which includes more than 550 picture book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Learn more about this children’s book below! - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
"The Biggest Pumpkin Ever" by Steven Kroll is an engaging children's book that tells the story of two mice, Clayton and Desmond, who both aspire to grow the biggest pumpkin ever. When they discover they are unknowingly tending to the same pumpkin seed, they decide to work together to nurture it. As the pumpkin grows, the two mice face various challenges, including rain, weeds, and hungry critters. However, they persevere and dedicate themselves to caring for the pumpkin. With teamwork and determination, Clayton and Desmond's pumpkin becomes enormous, and they proudly display it at the annual pumpkin contest. Through its charming illustrations and descriptive text, the book emphasizes the power of cooperation, friendship, and the rewards of hard work. "The Biggest Pumpkin Ever" is a delightful read that encourages young readers to believe in themselves and the potential of working together towards a common goal.
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Our read aloud lesson plans for this picture book come with reading comprehension questions (with sample student responses), 30 writing prompts, teaching ideas for grammar skills, social emotional learning discussion ideas, and more. Check out our list below to get a sneak peek at some of the skills this resource teaches.
- Encourage students to use their summarizing and retelling strategies.
- Teach a lesson on making connections to enhance comprehension.
- Help students to analyze what the author’s purpose for writing the book might be.
- Introduce and act out action verbs.
- Identify how authors use time order words in their writing.
- Discuss what it means to persevere and why it is important.
- Discuss how problem solving was used throughout the story.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book is a must have for your school or classroom library. Your students are going to love completing these activities for the book and you will be impressed with how much they learn. You will want to read this book to your class every year.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will love the similar books listed below, which can all be found in our free picture book list.
- The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
- The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
- Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
- Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
- Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
- Pumpkin Town by Katie Mcky
- Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
- Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli
- Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
