BOOk! Pumpkins 2016
In 2011, I made book cover pumpkin patterns in response to talk of how dark and scary YA was getting. Years have passed and book challenges have come and gone, but the media continues to use kidlit fears as click bait, so here's another round of the most terrifying thing around this Halloween: children's books.
This year I'm also offering a bonus treat: Since it's the first time I've gotten to include my own book in the patterns, scroll down for a chance to win a signed ARC of AFTER THE FALL! (No pumpkin necessary! But they do get you an extra entry or four.)
and now, beware the....
Creepy Creatures
The Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo; The Rat Prince by Bridget Hodder; House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle
Poison's Kiss by Breeana Shields; Treasure at Lure Lake by Shari L. Schwartz; In The Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III
Badass Ladies
American Street by Ibi Zoboi; Dead Girls Society by Michelle Krys; The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas; Into White by Randi Pink
Who's That Girl by Blair Thornburgh; Strings by Nikki Katz; Blue Is A Darkness Weakened By Light by Sarah McCarry; After the Fall by Kate Hart (hi!)
Exit, Pursued By a Bear by E. K. Johnston; Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol; Done Dirt Cheap by Sarah Nicole Lemon
Sinister Symbolism
Little and Lion by Brandy Colbert; I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo; Devil and the Bluebird by Jennifer Mason-Black; Flying Lessons and Other Stories by Ellen Oh, editor
Caraval by Stephanie Garber; Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth; Saving Hamlet by Molly Booth; This Above All by Lindsey Culli
LGBTQ Representation
Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin; History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera; You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore; The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich; Bleeding Earth (paperback) by Kaitlin Ward
and...
Macabre Middle Grade
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander; Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson; Spy Camp by Stuart Gibbs
Don't see your favorites?
Check the index or just browse year by year:
2011 // 2012 // 2013 // 2014 // 2015
Win an ARC!
How to use these patterns:
1. Click the image to expand, then right click and save to your computer. (You can also download from Google Docs here.)
2. Print at whatever size fits your pumpkin, then pin the pattern to it.
3. Use a toothpick or pushpin to poke holes around the edges of the design (more holes = easier to see the lines).
4. Remove the pattern and rub flour or powder over the holes to make them show up better.
5. Cut out the black sections.
6. Take a picture and tweet it at me!