Jonathan YavinBesprekingen

Pros:

• Cute art
• Good rhymes
• Cats

Cons:

• The text could be a bit bigger and more stylized (some of it was, but most wasn't), I also felt that for a picture book like this there were maybe too many words on each page?
• Why did the dad bring home a cat when neither of them like cats? And then the mom (who was defending cats earlier) is the one who doesn't want to keep it.
• I don't like that the dad yawns when the mom is talking to imply that she's boring, then brings home a cat without consulting her, and then accidentally ruins her favorite sweater (which is supposed to be the final punchline). It bothers me when parents aren't on the same page in stories like this and the mom is the butt of the joke, even if it's pretty minor.

A sweet book but somethings missing at the end....
I read other reviews and i agree the fonts should be a little bigger

Cute story about what the boy wants.. read it twice

A little heavy on words for younger audiences. The illustrations are creative and full of color. Takeaway from the story, be spontaneous, throw out the routine every once in a while. Life moves too fast to be so rigid!

Overall, the story of keeping an open mind and not making decisions based on past experiences is center of the story. Illustrations are ok, enough for a young reader, nothing too elaborate. The approach of the story line is ok overall.

I'm not sure about this one. It certainly seems like it's trying to make a point, but what is that point? That kids who whine and want their way just need to be worn down with excersise?
This may make me sound like an old crank, but I didn't like it message wise.

On the positive side, it has great illustrations.

Pumpkin the Kitten, written by Jonathan Yavin and beautifully illustrated by Gilad Soffer, is an adorable and heartwarming children's book that delivers an important lesson about not judging based on one bad experience.

The story follows a young boy whose father brings home a mysterious box that continues to make a rattling sound. As the box is opened, a charming ginger kitten named Pumpkin emerges, captivating everyone's hearts. However, the young boy's initial hesitations stem from a past scratch by a cat.

Through delightful rhymes and engaging illustrations, the book takes young readers on a journey of discovery and acceptance. As the boy and his family get to know Pumpkin, they realize that not all cats are the same, and one negative experience does not define an entire group.

The gentle and positive message of Pumpkin the Kitten shines through as the boy learns to overcome his fears and open his heart to this adorable new addition to the family. The book serves as a valuable teaching tool for young readers, emphasizing the importance of giving others a chance and not making judgments based on one isolated incident.

Gilad Soffer's illustrations perfectly complement the story, capturing the charm and innocence of Pumpkin and bringing the characters to life on the pages. The bright and colorful artwork adds an extra layer of appeal, making the book visually engaging for young readers.

Pumpkin the Kitten is a delightful and heartening children's book that will capture the hearts of both kids and parents alike. With its cute storyline, positive message, and enchanting illustrations, this book is sure to become a treasured addition to any child's library. It is a delightful read-aloud book that parents and caregivers will enjoy sharing with their little ones, sparking conversations about empathy, acceptance, and the joy of embracing new experiences.

This is such a sweet book. I loved the illustration style. The story is beautiful and well written.

Fairly lackluster. The message of open-mindedness is certainly good. The illustrations are striking at times, but on the whole a bit bland. And I agree with some of the other reviewers, re: the meter. It’s pretty uneven and trips your tongue too often. I thought perhaps the translation was to blame, but since the author assisted in translating…still, maybe in Hebrew it’s more graceful.½

When a father brings home a kitten to his young son, at first the boy wants nothing to do with it, he hates cats! But the orange kitten quickly wins over the boy’s heart and changes everyone’s mind.

I’m a sucker for cat books - especially children cat books. Just look at the illustration of Pumpkin on the cover! How could you not?

This was an adorable children’s book about a boy, who was once scratched by a cat, and got over his fear to welcome home the new orange kitten his father brought.

The text is simple and easy for children to follow.

The illustrations are adorable and there are a ton of hidden easter eggs in the background, especially with the boy’s toys.

I don’t have any younger children to read this too, but once I do, I’ll be reading them this. But also - adults will enjoy this story as well - it’s just too cute!

*Thank you Gefen Publishing House and LibraryThing for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I wanted this to be good. A little orange kitten! What could be sweeter? In this case though it was a miss for me. The illustrations are cute, but the rhymes are as clunky as the title. I'm not keen on the message that you can get a pet behind the back of a parent either. Overall I wouldn't recommend this one.

I got this as an early reviewer. I really like the illustration style and that it is full of colour. The message is presented in a fun way, that you can't always do what you want when you want. Kids will think it is funny to see parents acting like kids at the playground. The problem with this book is that it tries to rhyme or have a rhythm but it does not work. (I think it is translated poorly). The writing just does not flow which is unfortunate for such a cute idea.

What a beautiful and delightful story! An imaginative (perhaps neuro-divergent) child and tired, working parents enjoying their routines experience a joyful shake up of their patterns and the tables are turned! A great story about adventures in your own town and experiencing the unexpected in usual places .

The illustrations have such a unique style and I really enjoyed them. The rhymes were a bit clunky, but overall still a generally cute book.

Oh, what you have to endure sometimes when you have a small child. Constant arguments about leaving the playground, having a bath, and going to bed. Walk faster, look at that later, we need to go now, and so on. Ben Guggenheim is no different: “He always wants things when it’s not the right time!” Today is just one of these days again: it’s time for dinner and to get ready for bed. But Ben Guggenheim thinks it would be better to go to the playground now. Who cares if it’s dark outside and every other kid is asleep? Now is the right time for Ben Guggenheim. Not up for the argument, his parents have an idea: Maybe switching roles will show Ben that “there’s a time when each thing is the right thing to do."
This was an entertaining read about the struggles parents and children have when learning about time management and how reversed psychology can sometimes be key to helping them understand what is right and wrong. The rhyming reminded me of Dr. Seuss and was catching and memorable. A great picture book for bedtime storytimes.

Pumpkin the Kitten is an adorable picture book. The illustrations have a unique style and a lovely texture. The main character starts out hating cats, and by the end of the story, after adopting an orange kitten, learns that not all cats are bad. This is a cute book about having an open mind.

I got a free download from the Early Reviewers program.
My favourite part of "Pumpkin the Kitten" is the illustrations. They are simple yet include many fun details in the background. The story is cute and I like the idea that it rhymes however I think that the translation made for an awkward rhyming scheme. Overall it is cute but the story is simple and could be better written.

I received a free digital version of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. These are my thoughts about this book.

I have read thousands of children's books and consider myself a kind of connoisseur. I have high standards.

Overall I thought this book was ok but there were so many little things that bothered me. First, I don't like to see the words "hate" or "boring" in a book for young children. There are other words that can be used to describe dislike that are not as strong.
Second, here's a quote: "Some cats are wild and some cats are tame,
and some cats are good – they are not all the same!”
I don’t think we should teach that people or animals are good or bad… they have good or bad behavior. Third, the child saw the dad yawning because he thought that what his wife was saying was boring and the kid laughed at that. How rude!

The illustrations were cute. The book rhymed but the meter wasn't so great so it is a bit difficult to read it aloud well for young kids.

cute premise, but a bit boring

I loved this from start to finish. Easy to read, and the illustrations were beautiful!!!

What a cute story with colorful pictures! I love the rhyming!

what a lovely book! I have a 4-year-old at home and he is just like Ben! Naughty, clever and always stick to his minds! I love the language it used that rhymes a lot with each other. Well done!

After reading Pumpkin the Kitten, I find that this is a great book for kids! It is so important to not teach your children hatred, and I think the parents did that perfectly here! Although mom wasn't too thrilled to come home to a cat, they all loved the little orange baby. Jonathan Yavin had wonderful rhyming throughout the book and made it very easy to follow a lot for all ages of children. I like this style of writing as it reminds me of a song as well, so it makes it easier to read as well. The illustrations by Gilad Soffer were wonderful as well. They were simple, not to overwhelming, and made it even easier to follow the words of the story.

This book is very charming. Ben and his family share a fun time together at the park, even though it is after dark and no one else is around. The prose is written in rhyme and has a repetitive message that enhances the story. Could be very well used in storytime for a primary audience. The illustrations are on point and clearly shows what is happening in the story. Fun to read for parents and children.

Stunning! An adorable children's book that is simple, easy to follow and quite catchy. The artwork is beautiful and simplistic but detailed and gives so much life to the story. The story itself, one about change of mind, family and pet love is handled delicately. It was truly a heart-warming read.