Plum the Plump Pumpkin

Book excerpt: Perfect for - Middle-grade children aged 8 to 12 (school grades 6 to 8) Length - Approx. 120 pages (35,000 words) Plum the plump pumpkin is the endearing tale of a little pumpkin named Plum, who is swept off on an adventurous journey on the night of Halloween. Embark on a magical ride through the fantastical world of talking plants, floating castles and secret societies, where Plum discovers his true origins and his destiny. This middle grade fantasy adventure is suitable for anyone who likes magical worlds, mysteries and spy thrillers. Educational Value This feel-good book gives a voice to plants by personifying fruit and vegetables. They implicitly inform children about the impact pesticides and climate change have on plant life, while touching upon themes such as self-acceptance, forgiveness and friendship, all with a dash of humour. Synopsis It was the night of Halloween and Plum, the plump pumpkin, was peering out of the window of his tiny shop. Plum was no ordinary pumpkin. He was grown just in time for Halloween. And only pumpkins that were carved on Halloween could travel to Pumpkin Paradise, a magical land that Plum visited every night in his dreams. Plum's dreams are about to come true when a mysterious stranger arrives shortly before midnight to buy him. With him lives a little boy called Tom, who carves Plum just in time. Plum is finally able to cross over, but when he opens his eyes he finds himself in a mysterious land. To his shock, he discovers that Tom has also crossed over. Now they must navigate this fascinating new world of talking plants, floating castles and secret societies while embarking on a series of adventures and racing against time to send Tom back to Earth.