Think of Noah’s Ark’s story with an Indian backdrop and a huge pumpkin as the ark, and here you have Pattan’s Pumpkin, a vibrantly illustrated flood story from India written by Chitra Soundar with illustrations by Frané Lessac. Pattan has an amazing pumpkin… it grows bigger than the goats, bigger than the elephants, until it is as tall as the mountains. But can Pattan’s Pumpkin save his family and all the animals when the stormclouds burst and the waters rise?
The text is easy to read, is humorous and has a soft, gentle tone that will soothe young readers at bedtime and have them happily dozing in no time at all. A beautiful book and the perfect addition to our picture book home library.
The vivid and striking colour palette of the striking naïve drawings by Lessac brings the story to life with dramatic detail and lovely depictions of people and animals. Beautifully told, this reads aloud to perfection and is an interesting addition to a library of myths and legends.
Pattan’s Pumpkin is the ideal story to read aloud between around harvest and Halloween time. It is suitable for readers aged 5+ years. It will be published by Otter-Barry Books on 6 October 2016. RRP Hardback – £12.99.
The author
British Indian multicultural author and storyteller Chitra Soundar was born and brought up in India, where traditions, festivals and mythology are a way of life. She now lives in South East London, and regularly visits schools, bookshops and libraries to tell stories and teach creative writing. She is a member of the international Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Soundar’s short story collection, A Dollop of Ghee and a Pot of Wisdom, was published by Walker Books in 2010.
Watch an interview with Chitra Soundar
The illustrator
Frané Lessac is an award-winning American artist who has exhibited her paintings in London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles. She lives in Fremantle, Australia, but loves to travel and to create books based on her worldwide journeys. She has published more than forty children’s books throughout the world and has won many international awards. She is currently Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Australia West.
Watch an interview with Frané Lessac
