Parents' Guide to Turkey Trouble

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Common Sense Media Review

Tracy Moore By Tracy Moore , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Whimiscal tale of a turkey trying to save his own neck.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 12+

Based on 2 kid reviews

What's the Story?

Turkey is in big trouble: It's Thanksgiving, and he's the main course. But perhaps this year will be different, if there is no Turkey to be found. To accomplish this, he attempts a number of disguises to blend in with some of the other farm mainstays and keep Farmer Jake off his scent. Can Turkey pull it off? Will his clever thinking save his neck, or will he find himself at the center of the table?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 2 ):

TURKEY TROUBLE is an exercise in silliness, and the whimsical idea here, as well as the warm, earth-toned illustrations on watercolor, make for a fun read. Kids are likely to giggle over the various ways Turkey tries to pass as a pig, or a horse, or a rooster, and parents can get in on the fun of talking about how quick-thinking this bird is when it comes to saving himself.

It could also be a launchpad for discussion of where our food actually comes from. But here the tone is silly, light, and free-spirited.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Thanksgiving traditions. What sorts of fun things does your family do to celebrate the holiday?

  • Do you know the story of Thanksgiving? For what reason do we celebrate this holiday every year?

  • In Turkey Trouble, the farmer and his family decide to have pizza instead of turkey this year. What foods do you enjoy for Thanksgiving? What are your favorites?

Book Details

  • Author : Wendi Silvano
  • Illustrator : Lee Harper
  • Genre : Picture Book
  • Topics : Animals , Holidays
  • Book type : Fiction
  • Publisher : Two Lions
  • Publication date : October 1, 2009
  • Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 8
  • Number of pages : 40
  • Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Kindle
  • Last updated : December 4, 2025

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