Good group read too!
The Pumpkin Runner is based on a true story. It's inspired by an incident where a fellow in Australia -- 61 year-old Cliff Young-- accidentally meandered onto the course of a famous race (or an infamous race depending on how you look at it), that took participants from Sydney to Melbourne, a total of 542 miles.
At 61 years of age he actually won, beating all of the younger contenders! And like the hero of this story, Cliff shared the $10,000.00 winnings with the other participants.
At 61 years of age he actually won, beating all of the younger contenders! And like the hero of this story, Cliff shared the $10,000.00 winnings with the other participants.
In Marsha Diane Arnold's version of this story the hero is an old sheep rancher named Joshua Summerhayes. He's a man who loves pumpkins and a man who loves his dog, who goes by the name of Yellow Dog.
From a small lad, Joshua was a runner. He ran everywhere, but for the most part he ran after his sheep, and to-and-from the family pumpkin patch. He and Yellow Dog's predecessors ran after the sheep, and this tradition continued into modern times, long past when other had taken up using trucks, jeeps, planes, motorcycles and such.
Joshua was for the most part fueled by Pumpkins. He simply could not get enough of the wonderful pumpkins his family raised in their own patch. One day, when Joshua, now an old man, and Yellow Dog, no longer a puppy himself, were setting on the porch after a long run over to Bandicoot Creek, Joshua read a flyer advertising the 12 Annual Koalo-K Race. He and Yellow Dog decide to enter.
Joshua was for the most part fueled by Pumpkins. He simply could not get enough of the wonderful pumpkins his family raised in their own patch. One day, when Joshua, now an old man, and Yellow Dog, no longer a puppy himself, were setting on the porch after a long run over to Bandicoot Creek, Joshua read a flyer advertising the 12 Annual Koalo-K Race. He and Yellow Dog decide to enter.
What follows is a story of that race; of Joshua and Yellow Dog, of gum boots and the slices of pumpkin that keep him going. A story of an older, laid back guy dressed in overalls, accompanied by a common looking yellow dog, who defeated the younger, better conditioned (or so they thought), and better dressed runners.
Talking Points:::
This is a very well told tale. A central theme of pumpkins runs throughout, and the discussion of training methods and clothing between the younger runners and the old guy from the Outback is absolutely hilarious. If you enjoy running, you will love this one. If you are not a runner, you will still enjoy it. Certainly kids do.
Talking Points:::
This is a very well told tale. A central theme of pumpkins runs throughout, and the discussion of training methods and clothing between the younger runners and the old guy from the Outback is absolutely hilarious. If you enjoy running, you will love this one. If you are not a runner, you will still enjoy it. Certainly kids do.
It is told in a very "homey" laid-back manner, much like the main character of the book.
The art work is by Brad Sneed who is one of my favorites. Mr. Sneed has obviously been strongly influenced by Thomas Hart Benton, who happens to be one of my favorite American painters. [His illustrations of a previous book, Smoky Mountain Rose by Alan Schroeder hooked me on this artist.]
The art work is by Brad Sneed who is one of my favorites. Mr. Sneed has obviously been strongly influenced by Thomas Hart Benton, who happens to be one of my favorite American painters. [His illustrations of a previous book, Smoky Mountain Rose by Alan Schroeder hooked me on this artist.]
This book has an strong Australian flavor, as it should have, and the kids will have fun being introduced to some wonderful names and sayings that could only be thought up by an Australian.
It can't find any fault with this work and thus I suggest you get a copy for your child's library. It will be a book that they will want read over and over again.
It can't find any fault with this work and thus I suggest you get a copy for your child's library. It will be a book that they will want read over and over again.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
Word Count: 1,434
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 27972
AR quiz: 27972
Lexile: AD760L
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