Every fall during Halloween, carved Jack o’ lanterns sit outside on porches, glowing into the night. But how did the tradition of carving pumpkins begin? The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern by Katherine Tegen with illustrations by Brandon Dorman offers one legend about the origins of the Jack o’ lantern.
According to The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern, a mean and stingy man named Jack once made a deal with the devil. When the devil came to collect his dues, Jack refused. The devil threw a burning hot coal at Jack, but Jack caught the coal inside a pumpkin. The devil then cursed Jack, condemning him to wander the earth in search of a home after his death. Thus, to remember Jack of the pumpkin lantern on Halloween night, a night when ghosts wander the earth again, people carve pumpkins into Jack o’ lanterns.
Although the true origins of the Jack o’ lantern is uncertain, The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern offers an interpretation with a positive message: Living a life of meanness will lead to a terrible fate. Recommended for children from preschool through third grade, The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern is a fun story to read during the Halloween holiday. The beautiful illustrations help bring the story to life.
Final Verdict: If you are looking for a book featuring Halloween lore to read with your child this Halloween, I recommend giving The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern by Katherine Tegen with illustrations by Brandon Dorman. Young readers will learn a good lesson while learning a new Halloween myth.
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Image Credits
‘The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern’ Book Review © 2013 Heather Johnson
Cover of The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern © 2013 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern © 2013 Heather Johnson