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'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING by Dav Pilkey

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING

By

Pub Date: Aug. 1st, 1990
ISBN: 0531059057
Publisher: Orchard/Watts

This parody of Moore's Christmas poem, stuffed with eclectic references, attempts to be both farce and vegetarian tract but succeeds in none of its over-diverse intentions. A pointedly integrated group of eight kids visits jolly old Farmer Mack Nuggett, where a joyful meeting with his ""cockerels"" is followed by a grim discovery: "" 'Tonight,' said Mack Nuggett,/'These feathery beasts/Will be chopped up and roasted/For Thanksgiving feasts.' "" While Nuggett goes for water to quell the kids' ensuing tears, they hide the turkeys under their clothes; next day, the birds are guests of honor at their homes--at Thanksgiving dinners featuring ""veggies,"" jelly, and toast. All this is reported in not-very-clever doggerel forced tnto Moore's mold, accompanied by lively but garish illustrations that include pointless takeoffs of Grant Wood and van Gogh. The attempted wordplay here suggests humor--until Santa-like Mack Nugget's abrupt transformation into an ax-wielding butcher. If it's supposed to be a genuine plea for the turkeys, the book lacks dignity. Good grief.