Sleightholm Folk Art

       I find that little story encouraging, because it’s easy to assume that people who are successful have always had an easy time of getting their work out there and appreciated. When you’re working hard and seemingly nothing is happening, it can be really discouraging. But everyone has those moments— the only difference it seems is that those who succeed never give up.

    Of course another wonderful thing about Pumpkin Moonshine, aside from it being Tasha’s first book, is the wonderful old fashioned illustrations. The book is small and the illustrations are small and simple, but full of charming detail and warm autumn colors. It’s very interesting to look at this first book and compare it to Tasha’s work through the decades. You can really see how she started to master her craft, add depth and demension to her scenes and more realism. The illustrations in Pumpkin Moonshine seem rather ‘of the time’ and the main character, Sylvie Ann has sort of a “Little Orphan Annie” look to her (although the eyes aren’t as creepy, lol) but looking at this first volume, I can really appreciate how Tasha evolved into her own style through the years after publishing this story. 

   It’s amazing to think that this book has been a favorite of several generations now— it was published when my own grandparents were just kids! I wonder if they ever saw it? And I love the old fashioned term “pumpkin moonshine” for a jack o’lantern.

   Do you have any favorite autumn or Halloween children’s books? Something that you loved as a child, or something your own children enjoy? I’d love to hear about it! And maybe some day, I’ll write and illustrate one of my own!~

~H