Duck for Turkey Day

September 21, 2009
Before Thanksgiving, Tuyet's class makes turkeys out of pinecones and sings turkey songs. So she is dismayed to learn that her family will be eating duck for their holiday dinner. She breaks out her own money, but there is no turkey to buy at the Saigon Supermarket. Although Tuyet has fun on Thanksgiving, she is nervous about telling her class that she didn't eat turkey—until many classmates reveal that their families dined on dishes like lamb, enchiladas and tofu turkey. A lighthearted reminder about multicultural traditions during the holidays. Ages 6–8.

August 1, 2009
Gr 1-3-In school, Tuyet constructs a pinecone turkey and learns about Thanksgiving. At home, the child is dismayed because her mother is serving a family recipe from Vietnam of duck with spicy sauce instead of a traditional dinner. She counts her money to see if she has enough to buy a turkey, and then learns that the Saigon Supermarket where they shop does not sell it. Tuyet sets her pinecone creation beside her plate, so there will be a turkey on the Thanksgiving table. She enjoys a wonderful dinner "with lots of good food and family fun" and even has seconds of the delicious duck. Her worries return when she has to admit to her class that she did not eat turkey for the holiday. To her surprise, her classmates chime in with the alternative dishes they had on their tables. This sweet tale is written in straightforward prose and provides a brief glimpse of another culture. Mitter's bright illustrations accented with cozy details draw readers into Tuyet's happy home and enhance the story's heartwarming message."Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
Grades K-2 On the last day of school before Thanksgiving, Tuyets teacher, Mrs. Cook, sends her students off with a wish to have a great Turkey Day. At home, Tuyet learns that her Vietnamese American family is serving duck for Thanksgiving, and all during the joyful preparations, as relatives arrive and Tuyet helps with the shopping and plays with her cousins, she worries about what Mrs. Cook would say about a turkey-free Turkey Day. Back at school, Tuyet bravely shares her Thanksgiving story with her classmates and learns that the other kids enjoyed diverse menus, too, with meals of lamb, enchiladas, noodles, and even tofu. Mitters acrylic illustrations, in clear bright colors and simple shapes, capture the warmth of the holiday bustle and the affection among family members, while reinforcing the meaning in Mrs. Cooks overt, reassuring message: It doesnt matter what you eat on Thanksgiving, as long as you have a good time with family and friends. For more stories about cultural diversity and holiday traditions, pair this with Janet Wongs Apple Pie Fourth of July (2002).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)