Beauty and the Beaks

Beauty and the Beaks
A Turkey’s Cautionary Tale

Mary Jane and Herm Auch
Holiday House, 2007

From the dust jacket, “Beauty and her friends think Lance is one conceited bird. The turkey swaggers around The Chic Hen Beauty Shop, boasting that he is the only bird invited to a special feast. But while Beauty is practicing her favorite eggsercise, flying, she accidentally finds out just what kind of guest Lance will be at the feast. Can Beauty come up with a plan to save Lance before his life eggspires?”

What an eggcellent book! Not only is the story adorable but the chickens (& turkey) are super creative and filled with flocks of fun! Those 3-toed feet in high heels!!! Lance the turkey and his tail feathers! And the chickens in their outfits a funny hair styles! All so funny! Kittens will certainly enjoy this Thanksgiving story especially because it involves tricking humans out of their bird-feast! Read this to them but don’t let your kittens talk you into letting your turkey go free!

Rating: 4 out of 5 paws for the eggtraspecial art work of the flock.

Reviewer: Simon

 

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

 

Eve Bunting

Diane DeGroat, Illustrator

Clarion Books, 1991

 

From the jacket flap: “While setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner, Mrs. Moose tells her husband, “I wish we had a real turkey. Everyone always has a turkey for Thanksgiving.” So Mr. Moose sets out to find one for her. Their friends, Rabbit, Mr. and Mrs. Goat, Sheep, and Porcupine, join in the search, and at last they spot Turkey down by the river. But Turkey runs in fright when Mr. Moose calls to him. Why is he doing that? Mr. Moose wonders. Does Turkey have other plans for the day? This new holiday story by Eve Bunting captures the spirit of Thanksgiving sharing in a fresh and funny way.”

 

And funny it is. Poor Turkey – he sees all these folks coming for him and it’s Thanksgiving – it’s easy to guess what he’s thinking! Through the whole book I was wondering about Mr. Moose. Is he really going to kill a turkey for his wife? Surely not! Moose are vegetarians! I loved this book – out of all the Thanksgiving books I’ve read this season, this one is the best. The story is wonderful and the illustrations are beautiful (the expressions on Turkey’s face are spot on and priceless!). If you read only one book this season of sharing, read this one!

 

*Spoiler Alert*: no animals were harmed in the writing of this story!!!

 

Rating: 

 

Reviewer: Simon

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The Very Stuffed Turkey

The Very Stuffed Turkey

 

Katharine Kenah

Binny Talib, illustrator

Cartwheel books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc., 2015

 

From the back of the book: “With five Thanksgiving dinners to eat, there’s going to be one very stuffed turkey!”

 

A very cute story of Turkey, who had received five invitations to Thanksgiving dinner – and because he didn’t want to hurt any of his friends feelings, he decided to go to all five! First up is the Pig family where he enjoys a stew made from beets, corn and worms; then off to the Horse family and a meal of oat and hay cakes, carrots and pumpkin and apple pies. Even though he was feeling really full, he headed on over to the Goat’s meal and had a clover and dandelion casserole; finished with that meal, he went to the Cow’s house and since he was too late for dinner, he instead enjoyed tons of ice cream for dessert! One house left, and it was the Mouse family where Turkey enjoyed yet another Thanksgiving meal, this one of birdseed and berries! After all that food, he was really stuffed!

 

Another fine story of sharing and friendship with maybe a lesson of not eating too much thrown into the mix. The illustrations were cute and very colorful. The writing is perfect for early readers to read aloud and have fun talking about all the food!

 

Rating 

 

Reviewer: Simon