Pumpkin's Kitties


Children - Animals
32 Pages
Reviewed on 11/15/2019
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

J.L. Humphreys, author and educator, enjoys creating picture books that entertain while building a bond between children and parents. Her stories bring happiness and laughter to children while helping parents teach important life lessons.

Inspired by her daughters, Humphreys has had a lot of fun reliving the fun crazy life of raising kids that all new parents can relate to.

She happily lives in California with her husband, daughters, dogs, and cat. Besides writing, reading, and teaching she is enthusiastic about the outdoors. She enjoys vacationing with her family, swimming, and getting her hands dirty. Because life is an adventure, Humphreys continues learning and growing. Currently, she is learning how to knit. Her favorite ice-cream is mint-n-chip, her favorite color is blue, and her favorite animal is an elephant.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Pumpkin's daddy brought the best kitties home and she loved them. She found them cute, cuddly, sweet, and perfect. She kissed them every morning and carried them around in her baby buggy. She took care of them well but still, they started running away from her. She watched them as they sat a little too close to the door and they ran outside when she tried to pick them up. They were already hiding under the bushes before she could stop them. The next morning they were purring under her feet but she was unable to pick them up. Pumpkin started feeling sad and she decided to come up with a plan to catch the kitties. Will Pumpkin ever be able to hold the kitties and will they let Pumpkin touch them?

Pumpkin's Kitties by J.L. Humphreys is an adorable story about the relationship between Pumpkin and her kitties. The story will also help children realize how important it is not to force others to love you the way you want them to or to treat them like your toys. The illustrations are as delightful as Pumpkin and her kitties and the book is a treat for all cat lovers. It is a good book for storytelling and read-aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries. Many children will be able to relate to Pumpkin's feelings. It is a good story to show children how to treat others while dealing with them and it is easy for children to understand the concept when it is narrated with the help of a story and illustrations.

K.C. Finn

Pumpkin’s Kitties is a work of fiction for children written in the form of a picture book and was penned by author J. L. Humphreys with illustrations by artist Kirsten Girlinghouse. Set on the theme of responsibilities toward animals and animal welfare, the central character of the tale is a highly enthusiastic and playful little girl named Pumpkin. When Pumpkin receives two pet kittens from her father, at first she tries to dress them up like dolls and play with them in the same way as her toys. But when the kittens reject her and run away, Pumpkin learns an important lesson about having respect for animals and their personalities.

Author J. L. Humphreys has touched on a very important area of teaching responsibility and respect, essential in children’s books, and this makes the messages in Pumpkin’s Kitties very poignant and good for young readers to explore. The illustrative work by artist Kirsten Girlinghouse is done in a pencil art style, which gives the book a kind of coloring-book style aesthetic that is sure to be highly pleasing to the chosen audience. The kitties themselves are adorable, and Pumpkin becomes a more and more endearing character as the plot progresses. The narrative is nice and clear with appropriate lexis for the target age range, and the lessons which our hero learns about looking after and respecting her new pets are essential reading for any child about to receive an animal for the first time. Overall, Pumpkin’s Kitties is a highly valuable and recommended read.

Vernita Naylor

Picture books are a great way to introduce your child to reading. When children read, it opens up their minds to dream and exercises their cognitive ability to build and grow. By reading the picture book, Pumpkin's Kitties by J.L. Humphreys, children will learn the importance of relationships, respect, and love. Children will enjoy this easy to read book, as well as its colorful illustrations. The pictures create a beautiful platform that helps to tell a story your child will enjoy and want to read over again about Pumpkin and her two new kittens. This book is a great choice for new readers. Even though Pumpkin was given these two kittens, she had a good lesson to learn that even though they were her pets and friends, they needed their own room to grow.

Pumpkin's Kitties by J.L. Humphreys is such a wonderful and beautifully illustrated book that I really enjoyed reading it. This book will speak volumes to your child in numerous ways. It is a must-have because there are so many lessons for children to learn, from freedom and responsibilities to acceptance. The joy that this author has expressed in teaching life lessons to children through her book does that and much more. You and your child can enjoy hours together as you spend more time reading not only this book but other books written by this author. Whether your child is a novice reader or experienced, this will surely be one of their favorites. Pick up your copy today. Enjoy!

Joshua Soule

Pumpkin’s Kitties, written by J.L. Humphreys, is a children’s book about a little girl, Pumpkin, who learns a big lesson about her kitties. Pumpkin is ecstatic when she gets two new kitties, she loves them and plays with them all the time, but perhaps not in the way that they like. The two kittens run away from Pumpkin and hide from her, despite her efforts to coax them out. She tries everything she can think of, but the kittens won’t come out and play with her. Pumpkin worries that they won’t ever come out and let her hold them again. With some time and patience, however, Pumpkin is able to once again show her kitties affection. Along the way, she learns an important lesson about how to treat her new kitties in the future.

As an educator and frequent children’s book reader, I found Pumpkin’s Kitties to be very well-crafted and unique. Although I feel that older children would benefit from the theme of Pumpkin’s Kitties, especially if further elaborated, this book is accurately geared toward young children. I personally found the vocabulary, theme, characters, and overall feel of the book to be very enjoyable. Children are sure to learn an important lesson about how to treat their pets, and prompt discussion with their parents or teachers when reading this book. The illustrations are colorful and vivid and do an excellent job of bringing the story to life. Author J.L. Humphreys is clearly no stranger to children’s literature and I recommend that anyone with small children and pets give this book a try.

Bruce Arrington

Pumpkins Kitties, by J.L. Humphreys, is a 32-page children’s picture book about how to treat animals, particularly cats. One day Pumpkin’s dad brings home two cute little kittens and Pumpkin immediately takes to them and loves them just like she would her own dolls. Problem is, cats are not dolls. They are cats. So understandably, the cats no longer let her get too close...

The story is cute and the artwork is bright and colorful. What I like best about the story is that our hero finds out for herself what works and what doesn’t with the animals. The parent doesn’t scold or lecture, or make Pumpkin feel bad about dressing them up. Instead, Pumpkin discovers that once she starts chasing after them, they run away, and for the reasons described above.

Cats, being independent creatures, have a tendency to choose when and where they will go, and whenever they want. They don’t stay away from Pumpkin for long, but come to her on their own terms, as of course cats tend to do. And in the end, Pumpkin learns what the cats want, gives it to them and receives their love in return. This book would be great for all kids who love pets, but even more so for those who still need to learn how to treat all animals. By reading through this story, young readers will be able to gain a cat’s perspective and realize that they need to be treated with respect, as all animals do. Highly recommended.

Barbara Fanson

Put on your pajamas and cuddle up to a new story in Pumpkin’s Kitties. This is a warm story of a child named Pumpkin, who dresses up her cats and plays with them like dolls. But sometimes the cats want to be left alone. The two cats would prefer affection when they want it. Pumpkin is devastated when they sneak outside and don’t want to play with her. Will they return? Will Pumpkin ever play with them again? Author J. L. Humphreys has written this children’s picture book based on childhood experiences. She manages to bring children and parents together for this wonderful story. Parents and children will enjoy reading Pumpkin’s Kitties. The subtle lessons hidden in the story are relatable—whether you own a cat or not. Pumpkin learns about kitties growing up and preferring independence.

Pumpkin’s Kitties is an adorable story that is best read cuddled up with children, but teachers and care providers will enjoy sharing it, too. Author J. L. Humphreys understands pets and their relationships with humans. Pumpkin’s Kitties helps children understand how pets prefer to be treated. I think every home should have this book. Illustrator Kirsten Girlinghouse has provided beautiful illustrations with warm colors to bring the story alive. Teachers will want to share this book with children to help them learn empathy and how to play with other children or pets. This book would also be a good bedtime story book since Pumpkin is in bed with the kitties in the end. What better way to wish children a good night than with a story containing a happy ending.