Turk and Runt: A Thanksgiving Comedy

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 the family's attention. They are, after all, turkeys. And rarely has a story about them been told with such warmth and cleverness. Or with such witty pictures.

Lisa Wheeler's first book was Wool Gathering: A Sheep Family Reunion, illustrated by Frank Ansley. In a starred review of Wool Gathering, Publishers Weekly said, "This waggish collection of poems about an unorthodox family get-together brims with enough visual and verbal fun to appeal to both parents and children alike."

She has also recently published Sailor Moo: Cow at Sea, with pictures by Ponder Goembel. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lisa grew up rooting for the Steelers, but now cheers for the Lions from her family's home in the suburbs of Detroit. Fall, food, and football are three of her favorite things, so Thanksgiving is a happy holiday. Visit Lisa on the Web at www.lisawheelerbooks.com.