10 TURKEYS IN THE ROAD

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.