Pumpkin Soup

Story

Cat, Duck and Squirrel live deep in the woods in an old white cabin. Every day, the friends make pumpkin soup, the best you’ve ever tasted. Cat cuts up the pumpkin, Squirrel stirs the soup, and Duck tips in the salt. But chaos ensues when Duck decides that he wants a turn with the stirring spoon…

Why we chose it

A bestselling story about friendship by Oxford author Helen Cooper, with appealing characters and beautiful autumnal illustrations.

Where it came from

Helen Cooper (1963 - ) is an Oxford-based children’s author and illustrator. Before she could read words, Cooper ‘read’ books by making up her own stories to go with the pictures. Drawings alongside The Little Red Hen inspired a story about three argumentative animals cooking together in a house in the woods. Cooper’s pumpkin theme was influenced by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Where it went next

Pumpkin Soup became a bestseller worldwide. It was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1998, making Cooper the first illustrator to win the award for two consecutive books (the other being The Baby Who Wouldn’t Go To Bed in 1996).

Associated stories

Cat, Duck and Squirrel continue their adventures in A Pipkin of Pepper (2004) and Delicious! (2006). Cooper’s other books include The Bear Under the Stairs (1993) and Tatty Ratty (2001). She has also written novels aimed at older children, including The Hippo at the End of the Hall (2018).

In the museum

Find the Pumpkin Soup mini world in the Enchanted Library.