Celebrating an Award-Winning Season

This spring, Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse was honored with three distinguished awards. The Literary Titan Book Award praised the book for its charm, creativity, and ability to inspire young readers. Literary Global also awarded the book a 5-Star Gold Seal, highlighting its powerful message that life’s greatest treasures often come in unexpected ways.

In addition, Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse was named a winner of the Firebird Book Award, an honor that also helped provide colorful pillowcases and children’s books to homeless shelters. Each award celebrates the joy, hope, and imagination the story brings, affirming its mission to entertain while inspiring kindness, resilience, and the magic of dreaming big.

Ivy Blue's Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse

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Ivy Blue's Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse

What if your dream didn’t go as planned—but something even more magical happened?

Ivy Blue longs for her very own playhouse, but her parents have a different idea—a pumpkin patch. Disappointed but determined, Ivy Blue discovers a lonely pumpkin and cares for it with extra love and attention. As the days pass, her pumpkin grows…and grows…until it’s far too big to be a jack-o’-lantern. Now, Ivy Blue faces an unexpected dilemma—what do you do with a giant pumpkin?

With beautifully crafted illustrations and an interactive element that invites readers to find a hidden butterfly in each picture, this heartwarming tale of friendship, environmental kindness, and realizing one’s dreams in unexpected ways will captivate readers of all ages, proving that sometimes the best surprises grow when we least expect them.

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Visual Interactive Elements:

Do you spy the butterfly?

There are 29 yellow butterflies creatively sprinkled throughout the book, one in each illustration. Often the butterfly is obvious, making it easy for younger children to spot, but sometimes the butterfly is shy and requires a bit more searching to find. For a key to where the yellow butterflies are hidden, click here.

A splash of blue

Ivy Blue has a unique name and nickname (Blue Girl). While her favorite colors are pink and purple, she makes sure to wear a “splash of blue” to match the color of her sparkling blue eyes. The “splash of blue” may be small, such as a hair bow or trim on her clothing, or more prominent like a hat or backpack.

Meet The Author

About Wendy

Wendy Schicktanz is a fresh voice in the world of children’s literature. After a twenty-year career as an award-winning Master Photographer, she decided to follow her heart and pursue her dream of becoming a children’s book author. Her stories promote activity, growth, and a love of nature, fostering curiosity and imagination in young readers.

As a devoted mother to two grown sons, and a proud grandma to two “little pumpkins,” Wendy draws inspiration for her work from her family. When she’s not crafting tales, she enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, and adventuring with her loved ones, always seeking life’s endless discoveries in the great outdoors. She and her husband split their time between Arizona and Colorado, embracing the beauty both states provide.

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What Readers Are Saying

As an early childhood special educator for 22 years, I highly recommend this adorable and well written story. The author uses words to increase literacy skills by giving children the chance to expand their vocabulary, make predictions, notice details, communicate, and ask questions about what is happening in the book. It covers real life problems such as handling disappointment and other emotions that young children might face. The story teaches patience, hope, hard work, caring, giving back, gardening, and working together to reach a common goal. The illustrations are beautifully done, and the ending has a fabulous twist. As you read, have the children look for a hidden butterfly on each page to increase attention to detail, and to help them stay engaged. This is a fun and wonderful story for the classroom or to read at home snuggled up with your own children or grandchildren.

Lynn

Wendy Schicktanz has crafted a charming tale that sprouts with delight and blossoms with heart. While pumpkins take center stage, this book is a treat for all seasons, following Ivy Blue's journey from planting the first seeds in spring, through the summer's vibrant growth, to the bountiful harvest of fall. This is more than just a story, though. Young readers will be enchanted by the challenge of finding the 29 hidden butterflies fluttering throughout the pages – one in each illustration! This clever addition provides an extra layer of engagement perfect for keeping little hands and minds busy during car rides, waiting rooms, or any time a dose of quiet entertainment is needed. Beyond the captivating story and delightful illustrations, the book gently introduces important themes like environmentalism, the rewards of perseverance, and the value of friendship. Ivy Blue's journey to achieve her dream of a pumpkin playhouse takes an unexpected turn, reminding us that sometimes the best things in life come to us in surprising ways!

Ann

Ivy Blue is an adorable character that all children can relate to! As an elementary teacher, it is so refreshing to find a book that teaches, as well as entertains! As a grandmother, reading this book to my grandson was so much fun as he searched for the hidden butterfly on each page! The author, Wendy Schicktanz, has created a wonderful debut book. We are hoping this is just the first of many Ivy Blue books!

Paige

Such a wonderful story that helps children gain an understanding about flexibility, responsibility, cause and effect, open-mindedness, inclusion, the life cycle, loss, and more. Considering the digital age, now more than ever, we need more books out there that focus on children in nature, nurturing our earth, and giving back to replenish the earth just like Ivy Blue!

Raye

I didn't realize manifestation could be shown to such a young audience, but Wendy Schicktanz caught the lesson of never giving up and trusting good things you dream of will come to you. Nice job in spreading the message of hope and resiliency!

Tammy

The story is heart-warming and educational. It teaches about nature, life cycles, and emotions...dealing with disappointment...and in the end being greatly rewarded. The illustrations are wonderful, and searching for the butterflies throughout is an added fun bonus. More importantly was the reaction to the book from the special 4-year-old that we bought it for. The book was a Christmas gift for her, and she opened it shortly before bed. I read it to her, and she wanted to have it read again right before she went to sleep. Her mom texted me the next morning that she wanted to read it again as soon as she woke up!

Joni

News

Books in Bloom: School Visits This Spring

This past spring, I had the pleasure of visiting local schools to share Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse. Students loved the interactive sing-along of the pumpkin life cycle, spotting butterflies in the illustrations, and learning what it takes to turn an idea into a book.

Teachers shared that the visits supported literacy and science goals while inspiring students to write their own stories. Many left eager to dream big—some even hoping to become authors themselves!

Whether through thoughtful questions, animated participation, or heartfelt enthusiasm, the students reminded me again and again why I love doing author visits: the chance to connect the magic of books with the boundless imagination of children.

What's Happening

Amazon Bestseller!

Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse is an Amazon #1 Bestseller!

#1 Best Seller in Children's Gardening Books

#1 Best Seller in Children's Flower & Plant Books

#1 Best Seller in Children's House & Home Books

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Kid Approved Fun

Free Download--Ivy Blue's Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse Bingo Game

Download this fun Bingo game to play with your kiddos! Each square features delightful images and ideas from the story, making it the perfect companion to the book.

Thank you for downloading the Bingo game—I’m thrilled you’re bringing this fun activity to your kiddos! I hope it adds an extra layer of excitement and connection to your reading experience.

If you and your little ones enjoy the game, I’d love to hear about it or see photos of you playing! Feel free to reply to this email or tag me on social media—I always love seeing families having fun together.

Happy playing!

Warm wishes,

Wendy Schicktanz

Click here to download your FREE KID'S BINGO game.

Facebook: Wendy Schicktanz Author

Instagram: wschicktanz

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Thank you for downloading the Bingo game—I’m thrilled you’re bringing this fun activity to your kiddos! I hope it adds an extra layer of excitement and connection to your reading experience.

Happy playing!

Warm wishes,

Wendy Schicktanz

Click here to download your FREE KID'S BINGO game.

Facebook: Wendy Schicktanz Author

Instagram: wschicktanz

View Submission

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