Holiday Turkey Trouble and Turkey Claus

Weekly Trip to the Library

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

As Thanksgiving approaches, Turkey fears that he will be the centerpiece of the holiday meal. Thus begins his quest for the perfect disguise so he won't be found when the time arrives. He ties a brush on the back of his head and wears a tiny saddle because surely no one would eat a horse for dinner. But the animals still recognize him. He tries to become a cow, a pig, a sheep, and a rooster. He does not look like any of them. When he hears Farmer Jake tell his wife that if they can't find the turkey, maybe they should eat the rooster for dinner, the protagonist comes up with the perfect ruse.  Harper's comical watercolor illustrations pair naturally with Silvano's clever, filled-with-wordplay text. A first choice for holiday collections. Review by Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren and Waldoboro, ME.



Turkey Claus by Wendi Silvano

In this sequel to Turkey Trouble, a comical turkey again avoids being the main dish at a holiday dinner. Having avoided being served up for Thanksgiving dinner in Turkey Trouble, the protagonist travels to the North Pole to petition Santa to save him from being the main attraction of Christmas dinner. Santa is too busy to see anyone, and Turkey’s attempts to disguise himself as a Christmas tree, a reindeer, a candy cane, and Mrs. Claus fail hilariously. When he manages to smuggle himself into Santa’s presence (wrapped up as a Christmas present), Santa comes up with the perfect plan–and the whole farm munches contentedly on Christmas pizza. Goofy watercolor and pencil illustrations play up the humor of the giggle-inducing text, with Turkey working his wattles to great effect. “Pizza on Earth” could indeed start a new tradition. Review by Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library.