About the Holiday

Pumpkins are everywhere right now, and rightly so! With Halloween fast approaching and Thanksgiving right around the corner, pumpkins are enjoying their time in the limelight. Pumpkins also contain a secret inside—tasty seeds! Today’s holiday celebrates these seeds, known as a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and other nutritional value. Pumpkin seeds, roasted and salted, provide a delicious snack on their own or a creative topping or ingredient for many dishes and baked treats. So while you’re carving a Jack-o-lantern for Halloween or making a pie for Thanksgiving, don’t forget to save some seeds for a fun family baking project and some to plant in next spring’s garden!

Thank you to Orchard Books for sending me this book for review!

Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem

By Christy Mandin

As autumn comes to Garden Glen with its wilted flowers and dull colors, “the townsfolk’s joy seemed to wither.” But for Millie Fleur La Fae, fall is the best season of the year. This year she had a plan to reenergize Garden Glen with pumpkins. She ordered pumpkin seeds of all kinds and carefully planted one seed from each packet then “stored the extra seeds away” in Shed until next year. But while Millie Fleur was watering her seeds, Shed took off through the open gate and ran “scratching and strutting” through town.

While Ms. Prissypants chased Shed with her rake, his door opened and pumpkin seeds began spilling out. “As Shed bumbled and bumped his way through the town’s gardens, he left behind a trail of pumpkin seeds and Millie Fleur’s magic soil.” Soon, trailing vines began growing all over town, in yards, on roofs, even climbing down chimneys. And soon after that Garden Glen was covered in pumpkins of every size, shape, and color. The townspeople started cooking every recipe they knew, but the pumpkins kept coming.

Then Millie Fleur had the idea to open Garden Glen’s Ginormous Pumpkin Patch and hold a party. People came from all over to pick pumpkins and find all of the townspeople’s delicious treats. Every visitor even left with a free pumpkin. The day turned to night, and under the twinkling lights families were still stocking up on pumpkin treasures. And what about all those pumpkin vines? They became compost to help Garden Glen’s flowers blossom “brighter than ever” in the spring.

A page of adorable stickers follows the story.

Christy Mandin ushers in the delights of the autumn season with her adorably quirky Millie Fleur La Fae whose plans to return color and vibrancy to Garden Glen runs amok thanks to Shed’s impromptu walkabout. As the town rallies to use the bounty of pumpkins and then embraces Millie Fleur’s idea for a region-wide party, readers feel a sense of camaraderie that charms and comforts like a warm pumpkin muffin. Mandin’s enchanting storytelling will captivate readers and her descriptions of the variety of pumpkins will have kids searching for them at their local pumpkin patch or farm store.

Christy Mandin’s cozy illustrations are a balm for busy days. Kids will relish snuggling up to enjoy time with Millie as she plans her garden, giggle at Shed as he runs about on long chicken legs, and join Garden Glen neighbors as they cook, can, and plan their pumpkin patch. Mandin’s glimmering twilit farmers market welcomes leisurely looking, and children will be thrilled with the included stickers that will send them back through the pages to find each image.

Whether you’re already a Millie Fleur La Fae fan or just getting to know her, Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem would be a much-loved addition to any library or home collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-8225041335

About the Author

Christy Mandin is the author and illustrator of multiple picture books, including Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, Millie Fleur Saves the Night, and Millie Fleur’s Worst Day Ever (October 6, 2026). She’s grown many interesting plants in her garden over the years but, so far, none with teeth or tentacles. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and four children. Visit Christy online at christymandin.com.

National Pumpkin Seed Day Activity

Acorn Pumpkins and Jack-O’-Lanterns

With acorns falling tap, tap, tap all around, and other delicious nuts readily available in grocery stores and farmers markets, autumn is the perfect time for this craft that turns nuts into pumpkins!

Supplies

Acorns or walnuts
Orange multi-surface acrylic craft paint or spray paint
Paint brush
Black, fine tip marker

Directions

For Acorns

Remove the caps
If using acorns for crafts that will be kept long-term, follow these Directions for Drying Acorns
Hold the acorn with the flat side down. The little tip will serve as the pumpkin’s stem.
Paint the acorn, leaving the just the tip brown, let dry
With the flat side down, draw a face on your “pumpkin.” Let dry
Use your little pumpkin in decorations around your house or make a tiny pumpkin patch in a box or jar lid with paper, sticks, leaves or other material

For Walnuts or Other Store-Bought Nuts

If you live in an area where there are no oak trees, you can use walnuts or other nuts available in grocery stores or elsewhere. These do not need to be baked before using.
Paint and decorate according to the above directions