Night of the Pumpkinheads

The Pumpkinheads have had it with sitting pretty on Halloween: “For once, why can’t we dress up and go out?” Crisp photographs display McMahon’s stunning pumpkin carvings, which include a mastodon whose furry face and tusks stand atop stacked pumpkin legs; white pumpkins dressed as ghosts; and green pumpkins that form Frankenstein’s monster. Though the meandering story, which gets “hijacked” by some garden veggies, feels little more than an excuse to show off McMahon’s talents, his wildly inventive carvings may inspire readers to think outside the jack-o’-lantern. Ages 5–8. (Aug.)