Pumpkins Can Have Feelings Too offers an important message about how to be accepted; to adapt to new environments, and to be proud of who YOU are. 

Isabella Murphy, Award Winning Youth Author & Poet

KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS:  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

ISABELLA:  I’m the author of From Dark To Light. It’s a popular picture book for children and their families. I’m also the proud recipient of First Place Winner of the Penn Craft Award in the category of children’s books. I also write poetry and won the 2018 Half Moon Bay Library Teen Poetry Contest for my poem, “I Felt Rhapsodic,” inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I have presented numerous readings of my work to youth and adult audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. I love writing and sharing my stories, and also enjoy acting, playing guitar, singing, and golf.

KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS:  That’s amazing – congratulations about your poem as well!  We’d love to share it if you’d like.

ISABELLA:  Of course! Here it is!

KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS:  Tell us about your book, Dark To Light. What inspired you to write this?

ISABELLA:  The idea took root in a fall-themed writing assignment. Some students wrote pumpkin horror stories about being pitting against by gourds, or being eaten. I decided to go a different direction. I wanted to write a story about the life of a pumpkin. My story had a more serious tone and was written with the intention of being both touching and feeling so a human could relate to it. Three hours after sitting down to write, I had produced a tale about a pumpkin named Pumpker who emerges from his dark origins in the ground to find light — and delight — with a family celebrating Halloween.

KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS:  What a fun and thoughtful theme – we love it! Thank you for sharing your book and poem with us – they both have a lot of substance to them which is very impressive for an author of your age! Can you also tell us what has your life been like during Covid – what you have been up to.

ISABELLA:  During the pandemic, I’ve been exploring different activities that I have never done before. For example, during the summer, I signed up for different online cooking classes and learned to make different dishes for my family. I also was an intern at a farm and went to help take care of horses, which was such an amazing experience. This Halloween, I will be carving pumpkins with my family and, of course, eating a variety of different types of candy!  At home, I also enjoy drawing or painting with watercolors, reading, and playing the guitar. And of course, binge-watching my favorite TV show, Vampire Diaries!

KIDS NEWS & REVIEWS:  Thank you Isabella, for sharing your stories and more about yourself with us. Are you working on any other writing that we can look forward to reading in the near future?

ISABELLA:  Yes! I am working on a collection of poems right now. I also just wanted to mention that my book is now also available in Spanish! “de la Oscuridad a la Luz” – you can find all the details on my contact links below!

Learn more about Isabella’s upcoming poetry and book releases by following her at www.isabellemurphyauthor.com or on her Instagram feed.

This story is sponsored by TEACHING THROUGH STORIES & SONGS

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