Ah, the eternal question:
Why are pumpkins round?'Princess Pumpkin Patch' - a strange... yet oddly touching, independently published picture book. It has its own magic and wonder, and contains an important message about self-love, and carrying that love for others, and being enough as your own loving, beautiful, kind, generous self. Your own heart and light are enough for everyone in the world.
And personally, I could never resist a book with a title like 'Princess Pumpkin Patch', and it contains pumpkins (duh), autumn, winter, a princess (though she should be the queen of her Pumpkin Patch Kingdom), owls, balloons, stars, umbrellas, lighthouses, toadstools, and a literal book worm. There is a lot of colour and colourful butterflies in the Pumpkin Patch Kingdom. It's a fairy tale, where a whole lot of whimsy is present.
It's just all so nice and innocent!
It's like 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and the Cabbage Patch Kids and the 'Little Miss Books' mixed together!
However, I'm not really a fan of the art. It looks genuinely sweet and lush sometimes, but more often it resembles a collection of card art - or something out of DeviantArt - than what should be in a picture book meant to tell a fluid story in motion. It also looks AI generated to me (I sincerely hope that's not the case, though it is from 2019, so maybe not?), and I can't decide if Princess Sassinia is more unsettling with her eyes open or closed (was Margaret Keane's work an inspiration?). And she should never smile widely again. 'Princess Pumpkin Patch' is technically a Halloween book, but its scares should be intentional!
Extra note: Where are Sassi's dog Pandy, and the frog Felipe, who took over the kingdom for her while she travelled the world and skies, by the end?
Still, it somehow manages to be heartwarming throughout. It is creative, sweet, inspiring, and life-affirming.
Between this and 'Pumpkinheads' on my enjoyment scale, I can't believe I haven't ever been to see a real pumpkin patch yet. I wish to so badly!
'Princess Pumpkin Patch' counts as a Halloween read. So Happy (late) Halloween, everyone!
'Remember you are light and love whenever you see a pumpkin that is round.'
Final Score: 3.5/5
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