(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Slack. Acorn Squash feels left out every fall because their best friend Pumpkin is “the STAR of autumn.” Attempts to stand out leave Acorn feeling hopeless, until a helpful conversation with Pumpkin gives Acorn an idea: combining their flavors for “a double dose of autumn awesomeness!” Slack’s lively mix of spot, single, and double-page-spread art incorporates a fall color palette that complements the pumpkin craze plot; anthropomorphic gourds add to the story’s playfulness. The dejected squash, puns, speech bubble dialogue, and a PR team for Pumpkin allow McQueen to gently poke fun at humans’ annual obsession with everything pumpkin.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter