The Best Thanksgiving Ever! (by Teddy Slater)

A turkey family prepares their home for their annual Thanksgiving dinner.

While this isn't a deep book or a particularly moving one, it is a fun way to begin discussion about your own Thanksgiving celebrations or the inevitable trials (and fun) of having family come to visit. Similar to what many kids will experience, the turkey family is crowded, busy, and alike but not alike (with their different hats, different expressions, and different ways of spending time before dinner). It's noisy, the baby is crying, there are hugs and kisses, and lots of stuff left to do even as the first visitors pull into the driveway.

Bright colors and cartoon-y pen-and-ink drawings effectively convey the craziness of large family gatherings. Kids will enjoy picking out the different characteristics of the turkeys (like Great-Uncle Dwight -- think his Elvis-like hairdo is actually a toupee?) and maybe even finding folks who match their own relatives. And have no fear, the turkeys aren't cannibals -- their Thanksgiving menu is centered around a big plate of corn on the cob.

Author: Teddy Slater
Illustrator: Ethan Long
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication date: October 1, 2007
Number of pages: 32
Paperback price: $5.99
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 8