Customer Reviews

A Turkey for Thanksgiving

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When selecting books for our children, I try to pick stories that will hold their attention, provide an important message, and involve animals and/or nature. Eve Bunting’s book A Turkey For Thanksgiving has all of these criteria - and more! It is also a good book for children who are vegetarians or vegans.
In A Turkey For Thanksgiving Mrs. Moose is preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for her and Mr. Moose’s animal friends. However, this year she has decided that she wants a turkey for dinner so Mr. Moose, joined by his friends, sets off to find one. Eventually a turkey is found by the river and brought back for dinner. The terrified turkey is delighted, and relieved, to learn that he isn’t the main course, but a guest at this vegetarian feast! This delightful book evokes the true spirit of Thanksgiving. –Reviewed by Glenn Perrett

Mr. Moose wants to make his wife happy by finding her a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. All the guests join in to look for the bird. The poor turkey is so afraid that he is reluctent to go with them. He (and we readers) find out in the end that they don't want him to be ON the table. Instead they want him to be AT the table to celebrate the holiday with them together.
I like this book because its surprising and heart-warming ending. When I was told that TURKEY is a symbol of Thanksgiving, I used to think "Of course, turkey is the main dish in our Thanksgiving dinner". Now I have discovered the new meaning of Thanksgiving.

This book is about Thanksgiving. We all thought that this book was really funny. We learned that having friends is good. Our class learned some new words. The book told us what happens at Thanksgiving. Everyone one should read this good book.

As a vegan mom, I was hoping this book would be a good animal-friendly addition to our Thanksgiving library. While the story's premise, of inviting a turkey as a guest to a feast, is a sweet one, the execution was poorly thought out and anything but animal-friendly.

Mr. Moose attempts to placate his wife by bringing a turkey to their feast. The author builds in suspense as Moose's friends join in the search. They find a turkey, hidden away in his nest, and proceed to chase him. The turkey trips and in one particularly disturbing page, Mr. Moose pins the fallen, terrified turkey's head to the ground with his boot and then proceeds to carry him frightened and unwilling back to the Moose residence. Turkey takes it all rather well when it is revealed in a big "Surprise!" ending that the meal is vegan and that he's a guest along with the animals who spent the morning hunting him down and kidnapping him.

Strange mixed message, particularly with the boot to the head illustration and text, that seems less like friendship and more like practical joke gone wrong. (Sorta like, "Oh! Haha! Did you think we meant to murder you? That boot thing was just for dramatic effect. Didn't you realize that? How hilarious!")

For a truly heartwarming Thanksgiving tale, I suggest Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving (Bookshelf), where a group of school children befriend and save turkeys from slaughter or the earth reverent Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message (Reading Rainbow Book).

This is my favorite children's book of all time!!! I have been reading it to my Preschool classes for 17 years and now to my Grandkids. There is no better Thanksgiving book on the market. Treat yourself to a heartwarming, well written and illustrated story and tell me if you're not hooked.

I first read this book in a kindergarten internship and the response from the Kindergarten students was encouraging. It is a great book for a read aloud because the children can make predictions throughout the book. The ending is cute.

Eve Bunting writes wonderful children's books. This book is part of my holiday collection. I read it to my classroom children every year. It has ambiance. You will feel a sense of family and community as you read this book to your children. You will love the characters. The author and the illustrator do a wonderful job for us. It makes great reading and a great gift.

This book is a wonderful book for any age. The pictures are well drawn and the story is funny. I love the line "Turkey runs faster." I would recommend this book to anyone.

THIS STORY OFFERS A HUMANE WAY OF CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING. CHILDREN'S NATURAL EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS MAKES THIS STORY A WINNER!

I read this book years ago and now finally bought it. Now I can read it to my Preschool class this year. I think it is very sweet. Obviously the point is to make the reader think that Mr. Moose and his friends are getting a turkey to eat for Thanksgiving dinner. In actuality they insist the turkey come with them because Mr. Moose promised his wife a turkey for Thanksgiving ("Like everyone else"---so sad it's the norm). Happily the turkey discovers he's a guest for a vegan dinner rather than the maincourse! It's great book to teach compassion for animals and to encourage both out-of-the-box thinking and a meat free diet! Save a turkey this year, eat veggies instead! Adopt a turkey and save a life. You don't need all those added hormones in your body anyway.