TURKEY ON THE RUN!

A poultry-style twist on a classic tale.

While out on his morning run, a turkey, clad in blue running shoes with a sweatband around his head, is caught in a trap set by an old man and his wife. The turkey seems perfect for a certain upcoming meal. He frantically escapes, thus starting a chase and the repeating refrain that will be familiar to fans of “The Gingerbread Man”: “Run, run, run as fast as you can. / You won’t catch me / for your roasting pan!” The old woman, a farmer, a stock boy, a cook, and even an aquarist (at one point, the turkey dashes through an aquarium) all join in. At each stop, our hero makes a case for why everyone should eat anything but turkey. At the farmers market, he implores: “Eating turkey isn’t cool. / Brussels sprouts and carrots rule. / Spinach, peppers, tiny peas— / stop and eat your veggies, please!” Christian’s humorous rhymes trot along quickly, matching the momentum of the sprinting fowl. The ending brings a surprise (for Turkey, though maybe not for readers, who should be able to predict the ending) as glasses are raised to toast him, not roast him. Rawat’s bright illustrations rendered in autumnal colors depict a diverse group of townspeople.

A silly caper filled with Thanksgiving fun.