Pumpkinhead lived in Pumpkintown, surrounded by others who also had heads of pumpkin. One day he got to wondering whether people in other towns also had pumpkin heads, and not being able to find the answer at home - no one ever having left Pumpkintown - he set out into the wide world to find out. Unfortunately for him, some mischievous squirrels misdirected him (twice), and he and the townsfolk came to believe that everyone outside of their little burg was just like them...

As someone who has read and enjoyed many picture-books from author Eric A. Kimmel, and who also enjoys autumn-themed stories, I was sure I would enjoy Pumpkinhead. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and I found the story uninspiring and pointless. I suspect that it was meant to be taken humorously - a send-up of naive fools, perhaps - but my funny bone was not tickled in the slightest, and I found the conclusion, in which the people of Pumpkintown decide that there is no need to leave home ever again, quite sad. Again, I suspect that the story is meant to be humorous, and that the reader is meant to see this conclusion as mere foolishness, but somehow it didn't come across that well. The accompanying artwork from Steve Haskamp was colorful and cute, with all of the lovely hues of fall, but overall I didn't really enjoy this one, and don't particularly recommend it. Whether one is looking for tale of autumn, or stories about fools, there are far better selections available. ( )

Pumpkinhead becomes interested in what is outside his town so he asks around and nobody knows so he goes to the library but all the books are about Pumpkin town. Pumpkinhead decides to go out and find what is out there. However squirrels play a trick and Pumpkinhead just finds his own town but he doesn't know it. This is a very silly book about people with pumpkins as heads. ( )

Although the illustrations in Pumpkinhead are cute, the story lacks in plot and theme. The story is a trickster tale gone wrong. ( )