The Pumpkin Thief: questions to ask and activities to try
Squirrel has grown some lovely pumpkins with a little help from Bird, but they keep disappearing one by one. Who is taking them? A funny autumn story from the creators of The Leaf Thief.
What age is The Pumpkin Thief for?
The Pumpkin Thief is best for ages 3–6.
The Pumpkin Thief (Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- Calming down before blaming someone
Only 50pThe Pumpkin Thief activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Pause before the end and ask who your child thinks is taking the pumpkins. Then talk about why it helps to find out before deciding who to blame.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–6 (nursery to Year 1)
- What they'll enjoy
- Squirrel has grown some lovely pumpkins with a little help from Bird, but they keep disappearing one by one. Who is taking them? A funny autumn story from the creators of The Leaf Thief.
- Helps with
- Calming down before blaming someone
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Big feelings about losing something
- Not jumping to conclusions
- Autumn and growing things
- Friendship
Comprehension and discussion questions for The Pumpkin Thief
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Who helped Squirrel grow his pumpkins?”
- “How did Squirrel feel when the pumpkins started to disappear?”
- “Who did you think was taking them? Why?”
- “How did Squirrel find out what was really happening?”
- “Have you ever thought something was lost or taken, and then found it?”
- “What could you do if something of yours kept going missing?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for The Pumpkin Thief
All 6 questions for The Pumpkin Thief on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Detective walk
Go on an autumn walk and look for clues: nibbled nuts, footprints, fallen leaves. Who might have left them?
Stop and check
Hide a toy while your child isn’t looking. Before they guess who moved it, practise saying: "Let’s find out first."
The Pumpkin Thief activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to The Pumpkin Thief, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about big feelings about losing something.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–6 (nursery to Year 1), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Pause before the end and ask who your child thinks is taking the pumpkins. Then talk about why it helps to find out before deciding who to blame.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Who helped Squirrel grow his pumpkins?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Detective walk. Go on an autumn walk and look for clues: nibbled nuts, footprints, fallen leaves. Who might have left them? Children who finish early can try Stop and check.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The The Pumpkin Thief activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
The Leaf Thief (Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater)
- Best for
- Panicking about change, and autumn
- Age
- 3-6
Pumpkin Soup (Helen Cooper)
- Best for
- Sharing jobs, falling out and making up with friends
- Age
- 3-7
Don't Trust Fish! (Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat)
- Best for
- A very silly warning about fish
- Age
- 4-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 29 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.