by Catherine Johnson, @CatherinePoet
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday which the lovely Susanna Leonard Hill started and now has a wonderful resource for librarians, teachers and readers alike. Check it out here.
And now for some Thanksgiving fun!
A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Jeff Shelly
Suitable for: All ages
Themes/Topics: Thanksgiving of course! Looking at a problem in a new way.
Opening:
The people in Squawk Valley were downhearted and depressed.
Thanksgiving was approaching, but without its special guest.
They couldn’t find a turkey for the feast they’d planned to eat.
It looked like they’d be making do with bowls of shredded wheat.
Synopsis:
When the people of Squawk Valley find themselves without a turkey for their Thanksgiving feast, they plot a way to lure one into town: They’ll advertise for a “model” turkey to pose during an arts-and-crafts fair, and gobble the bird when they’ve finished the artwork. But they don’t plan on meeting up with Pete—a turkey so clever, he outsmarts them all!
Activities: LittleChompers ideas, Fun Turkey games specifically about this book, more Turkey fun.
I adored this fun Thanksgiving book but I can’t leave you without showing you Mike Allegra’s book too. A very special look at how Thanksgiving came about. Happy Thanksgiving Canada!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Catherine Johnson, Jeff Shelly, Mike Allegra, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books, Susanna leonard Hill, Teresa Bateman, Thanksgiving, Turkey
Nice looking books. Sound like good ones!
I almost feel bad about eating Turkey this weekend with the lengths the perky turkey goes to to avoid you know what
This sounds like a fun read, especially if the turkey gets his way…lol. “Sarah Gives Thanks” sounds interesting, thanks for sharing. Happy Thanks Giving Catherine.
I’m glad writers can help Turkeys to get one over on us, poor things.
What an awesome book! I like the title and rhyme!
Happy Thanksgiving! 
You’ll love it, Erik so fun!
This is so great that you found these! There wasn’t much of a selection when my children were young.
We are very new to Thanksgiving having only been here four years. It’s a beautiful time.
These look like great books, Catherine
thank you 
Hi Denise, you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too! I put Once Upon a Toilet on the forum for a last check. Want to send it soon
Sounds like a fun picture book for kids! I like those books that try to trick the turkey!
This is a double trick because they try to trick each other.
Catherine, this looks like a great Thanksgiving book! By the way — the link you posted on Susanna’s blog isn’t working– you might want to update it or list it again. (There were two https in the link.)
Thanks for letting me know Carrie. It might have to wait for now not on p.c.
I love getting our Thanksgiving books out every year. We have Plump and Perky Turkey! I have enjoyed reading it the past few years. I love the cover for Sarah Gives Thanks. Looks like a good one!
Thanks Catherine!
It sure does, Eric. I bought three books today and I still want to buy yours, completely bananas book buying this year. I’m going to forced to get a job at this rate
I really liked Sarah Gives Thanks too, and I am liking the thought of a turkey with smarts because I’ve never encountered any adult who would have said that about turkeys!
I’m so glad that your link now works from Susanna’s site, because I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this one! Sounds like great fun!
Have you read The Julie Andrews Collection of Poems, Songs and Lullabies? There’s a poem in there called “The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven” — can’t remember who it’s by — it is hilarious.
Happy Thanksgiving!
That sounds fun, Beth. I forgot that was on my TBR pile.
Oh, another great recommendation for Thanksgiving. I definitely need to add to my collection.
I love the sound of this! We’ll have to track it down for our Thanksgiving reading.
Sounds delightful!!!! Can’t wait to read this one!
A perky turkey. Sounds like fun rhyme, too.
I love the opening of this book, Catherine – it sounds so fun! I’ll have to find it so I can read the whole thing. Thanks for adding it to the list! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy belated Thanksgiving! What a hoot! This sounds like a wonderful read.
Sounds like a cute read! I’ll have to pick it up from the library for my kids.
Happy Thanksgiving, Catherine!
Happy Thanksgiving, Catherine! Because I know lots of people in Canada, does that mean I can celebrate Thanksgiving twice…and have twice as much turkey, stuffing and candied yams?
Great rhyme to this PPBF choice…I love it…would love to get a copy of it to read!
Vivian, of course you can celebrate twice, the food was delicious, I’d better go on a diet now
You, Catherine, are wonderful.
Good Lord! Has it been this long since I visited you! … TY for your patience…
That made me laugh out loud, don’t worry about it. This is a busy time of year