In The Pie That Molly Grew, a young girl plants and tends a seed that produces a huge pumpkin, which brings her community together to enjoy it as a pie at a picnic. This is an utterly delightful picture book on several levels.

First, the story mimics the rhythm and rhyme of The House That Jack Built, making it great fun to read aloud. Second, while creating a thoroughly entertaining story, Sue Heavenrich, a former science teacher, offers several learning opportunities, including the plant life cycle, different types of bees and their role in pollination, the value of community, and how to bake a pumpkin pie using fresh pumpkin. For this reason, this book could easily spawn some wonderful conversations and fun real-life activities.

Finally, Chamisa Kellogg provides heartwarming illustrations that make the reader want to plant a pumpkin seed and just see where it goes. In sum, this is a book that will be read over and over again and, with luck, maybe even send its readers into the garden, the kitchen, and their communities.

(Originally published on the San Francisco Book Review and donated to The Maltby Food Bank.)