Reading aloud this book every fall to at least my youngest child has become a tradition for me. It’s such a refreshing story of a child who finds comfort in a gift from the earth, a butternut squash, of all things! Forget a plastic baby or Barbie doll, a tattered security blanket, a tolerant cat, or a pampered dog. Sophie’s heart is all for her precious squash that she picked out at the farmers’ market. I love the gentle message of the seasonal cycle of life and the sensitivity of wise parents. The illustrations are whimsical and so suitable for the story. It’s the perfect book that captures the odd predilections of childhood. The sequel is pictured below and it is just as delightful! In fact, I like it even more because it shows the power of friendship, as Sophie’s world enlarges to include more than her beloved squash as she goes off to school to navigate the world of random classmates.  Five out of five stars!