Autumn is almost here. That means football games, sweater weather, apples, and pumpkin spice. What is your favorite part of fall? I think mine is the beautiful leaves changing color. Living in New England my entire life has let me enjoy the change every year! Today I am going to share a fun new picture book about a squash and pumpkin and what happens in fall. It is fun for all the fans of pumpkin spice and fans of squash. The book is Squash and Pumpkin #SquashGoals by G.G. McQueen and illustrated by Michael Slack. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7 and at the end I am sharing a roundup of squash recipes, crafts and other books.
About the Book:
It’s not easy being best friends with Pumpkin. Each fall, she’s everyone’s favorite gourd. The queen of lattes, the ultimate pie, the STAR of autumn—pumpkin spice is EVERYWHERE!But now Acorn Squash has #SquashGoals. She’s going to prove she has something to offer too. Voila! It’s Acorn Squash everything!
In this heartwarming and humorous tale of seasonal rivalry, plucky Acorn Squash is determined to step out of Pumpkin’s trendy shadow and into the autumnal limelight.
From a harvest festival booth to an unexpected partnership, this story of friendship and self-discovery will teach kids that everyone has something special to offer, and being someone’s favorite can be the best feeling of all.
Join the adventure as Squash and Pumpkin unite, proving that together they are the true spice of the season!
From Me:
Acorn Squash loves being Pumpkin's best friend until autumn comes. Then Pumpkin is too busy to be Squash's friend. Squash decides to do something about it and tries to outshine Pumpkin. However, she quickly discovers the spotlight is not all that fun. Pumpkin finds her and tells her how happy she is to see her because all fall she has been trying to be with her. Together they become the combination fall flavor but realize they both don't need the spotlight and want to be left alone to have a good time together like the rest of the year.
I love how this book focuses on the craziness around pumpkin and pumpkin spice that there is our society these days. Pumpkin's popularity actually bothers both friends. They really just want time together, but Acorn Squash does not realize that Pumpkin is trying to get to her the entire time. It is a wonderful book to discuss the different points of views and how sometimes we can misread a situation.
And of course, when Acorn Squash becomes famous and walks in Pumpkin's shoes, as we say, she realizes having fame is not all that fun! This is a fun book that has the fall spirit as well as some topics about friendship and relationships that come from it. This is sure to become a fall favorite read with younger kids!
Squash Roundup
To go with this book, I figured I would get our #SquashGoals going and see what there was around the blog world. I discovered there really isn't a whole lot with squashes like there is with pumpkins. Now pumpkins are technically squash, but I was trying to find non-pumpkin things. I have three categories. Main meal squash dishes, baked goods with squash recipes and some books and squash/gourd crafts. I have shared some that are not pictured. These are ones that I do not have permission to share a picture but thought are great and still wanted to share with you! If you Google squash crafts you will be surprised by how many pumpkin crafts still show up. #SquashGoals
Main Meal Squash Dishes
1) Stuffed Butternut Squash from Mommy Evolution
4) Lebanese Kousa Mihshi Bi Laban (Stuffed Zucchini)
5) Zucchini Noodles Alfredo from Wholesome Yum
6) Vegetable Baked Ziti with Zucchini
7) Butternut Squash Soup from Wholesome Yum
8) Rainbow Stew (book and our stew)
9) Zucchini Chips from Wholesome Yum
10) Our Soup from Growing Vegetable Soup
11) Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce Recipe from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
12) Young Hazel helping her aunt prepare an acorn squash for Thanksgiving (no recipe shared)
Not Pictured: 123 Homeschool 4 Me has a roundup of 25 Sweet and Savory Squash Recipes and a roundup of 27 Noodle Dishes that include some zucchini recipes and more and Wholesome Yum has more zucchini recipes and other squash recipes including Acorn Squash ones!
Bake Goods with Squash
1) Zucchini Bread from Reviews, Chews, & How-Tos
3) Zucchini Bread from Fireflies and Mud Pies
4) Yogurt, Apple and Summer Squash Muffins from Art Mama Says
5) Banana Pumpkin with Zucchini & Carrot Muffins
6) Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins
7) Scrumptious Zucchini Coffee Cake from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
Squash Crafts & Books
2) What's Cooking in Flowerville shares recipes for various harvests throughout the year including fall's squash
3) The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening has everything you need to know to grow some different types of squash
Not pictured: Hands On As We Grow has a fun Zucchini Painting and Stamping Craft, Handmade Charlotte has adorable Butternut Squash Bunnies, Learn Create Love has a fun Squash Painting Activity, Non-Toy Gifts has some spooky Butternut Squash Creatures, Fun Crafts Kids shares some spooky Gourd Monsters, Kids Play and Create shares some Squash Turkeys, Hello, Wonderful shares a Butternut Squash Turkey, and Activity Village has a Squash Pilgrim.
