Turk and Runt: A Thanksgiving Comedy Book

Turk's parents are proud of him, the biggest, strongest, most graceful bird at Wishbone Farm. "He's a dancer," says his mother. "He's an athlete," says his father. "He's a goner," says his little brother, Runt.

But no one ever listens to Runt — even after people with seasonal plans and roasting pans begin showing up at Wishbone Farm, or even after the juiciest turkeys are chosen, one by one. "Chosen for what?" Turk asks. No one wants to hear Runt's answer. But you will laugh at what he has to do to get his family's attention. They are, after all, turkeys.

Publishers Weekly

Wheeler and Ansley return to the comical family dynamics they related so successfully in Wool Gathering for this turkey tale set on Wishbone Farm. While Turk's parents cluck with pride over him, little brother Runt sees Turk's assets as liabilities (" `He's a dancer,' said his mother. `He's an athlete,' said his father. `He's a goner,' said... Runt. But no one ever listened to Runt"). The younger fowl continues his sarcastic asides as he scares off a football coach and a ballet instructor who admires Turk's legs ("Look at zee size of zose drumsticks!"), until finally his family sees the light. This funny tale may well make readers consider the fowl's side of the holiday; they may even spare the turkey. Ages 4-7. (Oct.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.