10 Turkeys in the Road
Zany circus antics; peppy rhymes; animated, comical art; and counting make for an entertaining, read-aloud-friendly picture book. A turkey circus rehearsal is in progress but not everyone’s amused: “Ten turkeys blocked the road / one hot and hazy day. / A pickup screeched. A farmer beeped. / One turkey flew away.” The remaining turkeys continue the feats, from stilt walking to trapeze flying, but alas for the farmer stuck in his vehicle, his turkey-scattering attempts (flashing lights, banging tools) result in only one turkey departure each time. Finally, one turkey remains but sneakily commandeers the truck, and turkeys pile aboard, stranding the farmer. Thankfully, a carload of pigs offers a lift, leading to the farmer finding his truck (now an artful circus prop), popcorn treats, and maybe even a tiny smile for the festivities. Colorful cartoonlike acrylic illustrations—contrasting happy-faced, googly-eyed turkeys with the increasingly exasperated farmer—capture the chaos with liveliness and humor. Kids will enjoy counting turkeys and finding corresponding numerals incorporated within the pictures. Not just for Thanksgiving. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Shelle Rosenfeld