The Very Unusual Pumpkin

A Publishers Weekly Fall 2026 Indie Press Pick for Young Readers

Lulu teaches Grandma how to be a better storyteller in this sly, tenderhearted picture book about learning from each other through humor, imagination, and conversation. Perfect for young readers ages 4-8.

Everyone’s grandma is good at telling stories…except for Lulu’s, that is. So Lulu decides to step in and help! Lulu’s method is asking questions. So when Grandma tells what seems like a mundane story of an ugly pumpkin sitting in a field, Lulu asks: “Why was the pumpkin ugly?” Grandma’s answer sparks Lulu’s imagination, and she tells Grandma: “That’s not ugly! It’s unusual!” And the two are off on a storytelling adventure! With a little creativity and improvisation, together Lulu and Grandma spin a full, refreshing narrative about a pumpkin and a fairy godmother–as well as the nature of storytelling itself. With its resonant theme that great stories are the result of genuine curiosity and dialogue, The Very Unusual Pumpkin is bound to become a bedtime staple.