There are few things that announce the arrival of autumn quite like a butternut squash. Its warm golden colour, sweet flavour and sturdy shape practically beg to be turned into soup, roasted with maple syrup or tucked into a comforting fall casserole. But in Heather Smith’s charming new picture book, My Best Friend Is a Butternut Squash, this familiar autumn vegetable becomes something much more: a treasured companion.
Alex’s best friend is, quite literally, a butternut squash. The squash can be a baby one day, a pirate the next, and even Alex’s twin. Together, they embark on imaginative adventures, while Alex’s parents happily play along. But beneath the humour is a tender story about loneliness, friendship and finding the courage to connect with other children. When Alex meets Trudy, another child with an unusual imaginary friendship, his squash becomes a bridge to a new human friendship.
For foodies celebrating autumn foods, this book is a particularly delicious inspiration. Butternut squash is one of fall’s most versatile ingredients: creamy in soup, caramelized when roasted, comforting in risotto and wonderfully sweet when paired with maple, cinnamon or nutmeg. Try our Tex Mex Stuffed Butternut Squash in the Recipe section.
Smith’s story gives this humble vegetable a personality that might make young readers look twice the next time they spot one at the farmers’ market. The book is written by Canadian author Heather Smith, originally from Newfoundland and now living in Waterloo, ON. Her East Coast roots influence her writing, and she has created numerous acclaimed books for children and young adults. Her novel The Agony of Bun O’Keefe won both the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award and the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award, while her middle-grade novel Tig won the 2025 Governor General’s Award.
The illustrations by Kass Reich are equally inviting. Reich is an artist and educator who studied Art Education at Concordia University and spent several years working as an early childhood educator in Beijing. That experience helped inspire her career creating picture books. Her previous illustration work includes the Megabat series, Sergeant Billy and Carson Crosses Canada. She now lives and works in Toronto.
Reich’s bright, lively artwork perfectly complements Smith’s playful storytelling. The squash’s many personalities make it feel like far more than a vegetable—and perhaps even the sort of friend a child could imagine taking along on an autumn adventure.
My Best Friend Is a Butternut Squash is a warm, funny and surprisingly tender celebration of friendship and imagination. For families looking to embrace the flavours of fall, it pairs especially well with a bowl of homemade butternut squash soup, a plate of maple-roasted squash or simply a trip to the local farmers’ market. Purchase the book at My Best Friend Is a Butternut Squash by Heather Smith; illustrated by Kass Reich | Penguin Random House Canada or win a copy in our Giveaway section.
After all, autumn is about gathering together—and sometimes the best companions are found in the most unexpected places.
Contents and images used with permission by Penguin Random House Canada, Young Readers (Tundra Books). My Best Friend Is a Butternut Squash by Heather Smith; illustrated by Kass Reich | Penguin Random House Canada