The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin

Peggy the Pug’s family are getting ready for Halloween, but Peggy’s human friend Chloe is too scared of monsters to look forward to trick-or-treating. Peggy can’t let her best friend miss out on all the Halloween fun. Peggy will have to conquer her own fears and go trick-or-treating with Chloe to keep her safe. But first, she needs the perfect costume . . .  

The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin explores the topic of fear by describing different reasons people and dogs are afraid. Most of the characters overcome a fear—Chloe fears public speaking, Finn fears spiders, Ruby fears heights, and a dog fears that no one will want to play with him. The most prominent fear is Chloe’s fear of public speaking. When Chloe is afraid to speak in public, her dad gives her advice. He tells her that when he has to give a presentation, he pretends “everyone in the audience is in their underwear.” Even though the advice is unconventional, it helps Chloe overcome her fear. Seeing the humans overcome their fears gives Peggy the courage to overcome her own fear of the “spookiest night of the year.” 

Young readers will enjoy the story because of the relatable characters—both human and pug—as well as the familiar conflict. The simple plot is easy to follow and the large text is broken up with black-and-white illustrations that appear every two to three pages. The author is British, and some readers may have a difficult time understanding the British terms. However, many readers will be able to use context clues to figure out the British words. For example, instead of using a leash, the author uses lead. Even though the book is part of a series, the books do not need to be read in any particular order.  

The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin will appeal to many readers because of the adorable pug who appears on the cover of the book. However, the story isn’t just cute—it also has several positive aspects. Peggy’s traditional family is portrayed positively even though they have typical sibling conflicts. Peggy’s and the kids’ conflicts reflect each other, which makes the story’s lesson clear: it’s important to overcome your fears.  

If you’d like to read another book that shows someone overcoming fear, check out Princess Posey and the Next-Door Dog by Stephanie Greene and The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches by Alice Low. However, if you’re ready to brew up a little Halloween fun, fly to the library to check out a copy of Sleepy Hollow Sleepover by Ron Roy and Eva Sees a Ghost by Rebecca Elliot. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• Chloe writes a story about a dog who “fell into a lake when its owner wasn’t paying attention and got gobbled up by a hideous swamp monster. Then it came back as a vicious ghost dog to haunt the old house where it had lived.” 
• Zach, a friend of the kids, dresses up as a ghost. Peggy thinks he is really a ghost and “she growled and sank her teeth into its billowing white form.” The sheet falls off and Zach is uninjured. 
• Tiger, a grumpy cat, tries to scare Peggy. Tiger points out a frog and says, “it used to be a cute little cocker spaniel named Maisy. She crossed paths with a witch on Halloween night, and her tail ended up in a cauldron. The witch didn’t need her after that so—abracadabra, hey presto—the witch turned Maisy into a toad.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None

Language  

• When Chloe has a sleepover, her brother says, “I don’t want to hang out with you and your stupid friends, anyway.” 

• When Chloe is afraid of a ghost, her brother says, “Don’t be stupid. There’s no such thing as ghosts.” 
• Chloe’s brother teases her, saying, “your face will scare people just as it is.” 
• When Chloe presents her ghost story, it scares a boy, who runs out of the room crying. Chloe’s sister says the boy is a “baby.” 
• Tiger, a grumpy cat, calls Peggy “Pig Tail.”

Supernatural 

• A girl and her dog dress up as demon cheerleaders. 

Spiritual Content  

• None