The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow

November 15, 2014
Grades 3-6 Based on a never-produced Jim Henson screenplay, this folksy story captures the spirit of Muppet holiday specials like Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. Timmy Henderson lives in tiny Turkey Hollow with his hippie sister and witchy aunt Clymenestra. He is frustrated while practicing his guitar, but one day he makes some new friends who help him master his skillsthe musical monsters, a mischievous gaggle of furry, big-eyed alien creatures who speak in incomprehensible qwonks and shoops in perfect harmony, as well as wreak harmless havoc wherever they go. The townspeople are unnerved by the unusual mischief, and Mr. Sump, Timmy's mean neighbor who is after Clymenestra's farm, riles them up even more to run the Hendersons out of town for good. Luckily, Timmy, the very reasonable sheriff, and the monsters work together to reveal Sump's treachery. Subdued autumnal colors make up most of the palette in Langridge's clean-lined panels, while musical moments are full of big, swirling words in bright colors. Perfect for any Muppets fan who has exhausted his or her collection of Jim Henson movies.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)