10 Turkeys in the Road [Hardcover]

Brenda Reeves Sturgis (Author), David Slonim (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2011 | Age Range: 6 - 8 years

Ten turkeys in the road are circus performers practicing their show. As a farmer in his pickup truck tries to pass them, he grows more and more frustrated. The turkeys fly away one at a time, but in the end, the clever turkeys get exactly what they were after all along. Bold, hilarious acrylic paintings bring to life all the spectacle and excitement of the circus.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Zany circus antics; peppy rhymes; animated, comical art; and counting make for an entertaining, read-aloud-friendly picture book. A turkey circus rehearsal is in progress but not everyone’s amused: “Ten turkeys blocked the road / one hot and hazy day. / A pickup screeched. A farmer beeped. / One turkey flew away.” The remaining turkeys continue the feats, from stilt walking to trapeze flying, but alas for the farmer stuck in his vehicle, his turkey-scattering attempts (flashing lights, banging tools) result in only one turkey departure each time. Finally, one turkey remains but sneakily commandeers the truck, and turkeys pile aboard, stranding the farmer. Thankfully, a carload of pigs offers a lift, leading to the farmer finding his truck (now an artful circus prop), popcorn treats, and maybe even a tiny smile for the festivities. Colorful cartoonlike acrylic illustrations—contrasting happy-faced, googly-eyed turkeys with the increasingly exasperated farmer—capture the chaos with liveliness and humor. Kids will enjoy counting turkeys and finding corresponding numerals incorporated within the pictures. Not just for Thanksgiving. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Shelle Rosenfeld

Review

Ages 3-6 Counting down with goofy gobblers and a delightful final surprise. One turkey carries a giant pole, another examines his clown nose in a mirror, others lug boxes and swing mallets. All are hard at work "Ten turkeys blocked the road / one hot and hazy day." A poker-faced farmer in a truck drives up "A pickup screeched. A farmer beeped. / One turkey flew away." And so it goes, turkeys setting up for what looks like a circus and the frustrated farmer waiting for his chance to drive through. Big busy double-page spreads add to the antic action; seven turkeys surround the truck and shoot it full of silly string "The farmer shook his fist and yelled. / One turkey flew away." Turkeys are also swinging on trapezes, being shot out of cannons, juggling bowling balls and bales of hay. With only one turkey to go, it looks like the farmer will finally be on his way, but then all 10 make off with his truck. Luckily, he catches a ride in a bright blue Volkswagen full of pigs, who take him to the big turkey circus. Ta-da! The turkey tableaux are deliriously silly, and, of course, more appropriate all around than 10 little Indians. Slonim's bright acrylics amp the loopiness of Sturgis' verses. A cute combo sure to bring many smiles. --Kirkus Reviews, August Issue

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Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Two Lions (September 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761458476
• ISBN-13: 978-0761458470
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #676,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! A+ November 20, 2011

By Jennifer Bielicki

Format:Hardcover

My six year old absolutely LOVES this book. She giggles and laughs through the whole thing every time we read it together. The rhyming text is clever and funny and the illustrations are amazing! Great book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gobbling Good Read! November 26, 2011

By Leslie Muir

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ten Turkeys In The Road is stuffed with slapstick humor and good fun. Truss it up with adorable illustrations and a zany surprise ending and you've got the perfect anytime read. My niece and nephew gobbled this one up!

3.0 out of 5 stars Just okay May 16, 2013

By Rachel Himes

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is basically another "count to 10" book like 10 monkeys on a bed or 10 ladybugs. The only real difference is that these are turkeys and at the end of the book, we learn that they are performing turkeys from a circus. My 7 and 5 year old weren't impressed and haven't picked it up again in a month since we read it the first time. Definitely not one to read over and over again.