Kari Hanson

Kari Hanson Presents

Life on a Vine

A tender journey from seed to pumpkin patch—told by the pumpkin itself.

Life on a Vine is a beautifully told children’s book that invites young readers to see growth, change, nature, and belonging through the eyes of a pumpkin waiting for its special purpose.

About The Author

Kari Hanson

Mrs. Hanson has spent much of her life surrounded by children, stories, seasons, and pumpkins.

A Wisconsin educator for 34 years, Mrs. Hanson taught middle school and high school students while also raising three sons with her husband, John, on their Century Farm. During the summers, her boys raised pumpkins and sold them from the family’s front yard each fall—an experience that helped inspire the heart of Life on a Vine.

Today, Kari is a proud grandmother of three and loves reading children’s books aloud. Life on a Vine is her first published book, but it is only the beginning; she has several more stories tucked away and ready to grow.

About The Book

Life on a Vine

A pumpkin’s life is more than a season. It’s a story.

This heartwarming story blends science, nature, and imagination in a way that feels both educational and deeply emotional. Children will recognize the excitement of visiting a pumpkin patch, while adults will appreciate the book’s quiet reflections on growth, patience, change, and purpose.

Perfect for autumn story time, classroom plant units, library programs, and cozy family reading, Life on a Vine encourages children to look more closely at the natural world—and to wonder what stories might be hidden inside it.

Reviews

A Story That Grows With Every Reader

Parents, educators, librarians, and young readers will find something different to love in Life on a Vine—from its gentle science connections to its warm autumn magic.

“Life on a Vine has the kind of voice children remember. It turns a pumpkin into a narrator, a science lesson into a story, and a trip to the pumpkin patch into something meaningful.”

— Elementary Educator

“This is the perfect fall read-aloud. The language is soft, vivid, and full of images children can picture right away—sunshine, vines, bees, deer, and the excitement of finding just the right pumpkin.”

— School Librarian

“My students loved guessing what was happening next in the pumpkin’s life cycle. It opened the door to great conversations about plants, seasons, and how living things grow.”

— Classroom Teacher Designation

“A sweet and thoughtful book that feels especially personal. You can tell the author knows children, knows the rhythm of a classroom, and knows the quiet beauty of farm life.”

— Parent Reader

“The personification is lovely without feeling forced. This is a book teachers can use for craft, science, and theme—but children will simply enjoy the story.”

— Middle Grade Language Arts Teacher

“Warm, lyrical, and full of autumn wonder. Life on a Vine reminds readers that growing takes time, change is part of the journey, and every season has its purpose.”

— Children’s Book Reviewer

Inspired by Family, Farm Life And Simple Wonder Of Life

From a tiny seed beneath the soil to a bright pumpkin waiting in the patch, Life on a Vine is a tender children’s book about growth, nature, change, and purpose—told by the pumpkin itself.

Blogs & Insights

Mrs. Hanson’s stories are shaped by farm life, family, teaching, grandchildren, and the belief that children’s books can help young readers notice the world more closely.

How Does a Pumpkin Grow? A Pumpkin Life Cycle for Kids

A pumpkin may look simple when it is sitting on a porch in October, but its journey begins months earlier. If a child has ever asked, how do pumpkins grow, the answer starts with something surprisingly small: a seed tucked beneath the soil.

Learn more

Best Fall Picture Books for Kids to Share During Read-Aloud Time

Fall gives children plenty to notice. Leaves change color. Days become cooler. Pumpkins appear outside homes and stores. Families return to routines, while classrooms begin filling with seasonal crafts, stories, and conversations.

Learn more

Why We Wrote Life on a Vine: The True Story Behind a Children’s Book

People often wonder how picture books get written. Sometimes the answer begins with a carefully planned concept. Sometimes it begins with a character. And sometimes the idea has been quietly waiting inside a family memory for years.

Learn more

Growth Mindset Picture Books: Patience, Growth, and Change in Life on a Vine

Children live in a world of quick results. A screen changes with one tap. A video begins instantly. A question can be answered in seconds.

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