This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Jessyca Garcia for Readers' Favorite
Wally Pumpkin's Grand Purpose by Sean Smith is a story about not giving up on your dreams. It is also a story that lets kids know that it is okay to be different. Wally Pumpkin is excited because Fall is finally here. He cannot wait to be chosen for either a pumpkin pie, a show pumpkin or a jack-o’-lantern. When he is repeatedly overlooked, he becomes sad ... until something happens that makes him smile again.
I read Wally Pumpkin's Grand Purpose with my 4-year-old daughter who loves Fall as much as Wally does. Her opinion was that she liked the story and wanted Wally to become a pumpkin to be used for Halloween. My opinion was that I liked the story, but my adult thoughts made me think that Wally was sentencing himself to death by wanting to be a pie or a jack-o’-lantern.
Despite my silly thoughts, I felt that Smith had a couple of good messages in this story. The first is that it is okay to be different. Wally was kind of a weird looking pumpkin, he was even bullied in the story because of his looks. At the end, his looks are what got him chosen. The second message was never to give up on your dreams. Wally knew from the beginning that he wanted to be something and he kept his head up, despite being bullied. I really like the illustrations in this story. They were colorful and cute. Wally’s big green eyes make you instantly like him. Smith even includes some blank pumpkins at the end of the book so that your child can make their own pumpkin face. Overall, this was a good story!
