Youngsters may be more confused than entertained by this turkey tale. "Every year, a plump, wattle-y turkey disappeared just before Thanksgiving," Reed (Punctuation Takes a Vacation
) begins, implying dark doings ahead for Thelonius, the sole turkey on Felicia's farm. Primitivist broad brushstrokes depicting a cow, pig and chicken, plus photographic images of a duck and Thelonius's bright tail feathers, suggest a working farm. The hapless hero dreams up seven ways to trip up the female farmer in the weeklong countdown to the holiday. But Felicia runs a "Fashion Factory" (a fact that may dumbfound readers, for whom no clues are planted; she sports the identical outfit every day of the week), and Thelonius comes off as a thankless pet. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)
