Halloween is fast approaching. Every place you look, there seem to be pumpkins for sale. If you are planning to buy one of them, are you planning on doing the traditional carving of it? This time of the year, Martha Stewart and others promote different ideas for carving.

The library has a fascinating book called Extreme Pumpkin Carving by Vic Hood and Jack A. Williams (745.594 HOO). The authors use non-traditional tools for their creations: toothbrush, a pocket knife, and wood carving tools. There are 20 ideas to spark your imagination. They include a witch and several old men (including Santa Claus himself). The photographs of the finished pumpkins are a treat to look at, even if you don't care to go through the work of carving a pumpkin.

If you're interested in a more basic book on pumpkin carving, check out Pumpkin Carving by Ed Palmer (745.5941 PAL).

c Waterloo Public Library 2007