10 Turkeys in the Road

October 1, 2011

K-Gr 2-A farmer in a pickup truck finds his progress down a country road thwarted by 10 turkeys performing circus acts. As he beeps his horn, flashes his lights, clangs his tools, etc., the turkeys fly away one by one. When he exits his truck, the turkeys sneak in, inviting the farmer to come and see the show as they drive off, leaving him stranded. Some pigs pick him up, and he eventually ends up at the Turkey Circus eating popcorn. Watching the farmer become increasingly frustrated and angry as the cavorting turkeys block his path is not particularly amusing, and it strikes an off note to think that children should be encouraged to find his unhappiness as he pounds the hood of his truck something laughable. The cartoon illustrations, rendered in acrylic, are frenetic, with a constant sense of motion and nowhere for the eye to rest.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.