B. G. Ford

Grover is one of the more endearing muppets, with his sweet heart and annoying voice, and I guess I'm okay with him as a guide to baby aminals, but I dunno, I've seen a billion baby aminal books by now and I guess I'm feeling jaded. And the thing at the end where it's like "WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE BOOK WITH ME AGAIN? YOU WOULD? OH JOY!" and you can't get away without disappointing Grover rankles like an avulsion, which is the type of injury where you get a loose flap of skin or flesh. show more Like a minor avulsion. show less

Thanksgiving can be a challenge for vegetarian families from having the nothing-to-eat-but-the-cranberry-jelly blues to finding children's books that don't picture a steaming hot dead bird on a table. This book will help with the latter for vegetarian and pescaterian families (although not vegan ones).

Albuquerque Turkey is to be sung to the tune of "Oh, My Darlin', Clementine" (although the timid can do a straight reading). A friendly farmer and his turkey, named Albuquerque, are great pals. show more Albuquerque follows the farmer every day as he goes about tasks and runs errands. Come one Wednesday morning, Albuquerque begins to look a little worried as the farmer bakes apple and pumpkin pies, then is alarmed when he suspects the farmer is peeling an onion for use in stuffing. The farmer quickly reassures Albuquerque that the onions are for something else and encourages the turkey to follow him on another errand to buy eggs and spices:

"Now my Albuquerque Turkey
Is all safely tucked in bed.
'Cause for our Thanksgiving dinner . . .
We have Egg Foo Yong instead."

I found the illustrations somewhat cartoonish and odd-looking (the farmer looks like Elmer Fudd's long-lost twin), and the lyrics are rather uninspired, but the story is sweet, and preschool-aged children will enjoy singing along. show less

This is a great example of a fantasy because a turkey is talking to and helping a farmer do human things, which are a part of our normal daily life, such as going to the store and cooking dinner, as well as celebrating Thanksgiving.
This is also an excellent example of poetry because it rhymes and has a natural rhythm. It has no deeper meaning or moral, though, which is also a criteria for poetry.
This story is too short to critique the plot, setting, or characters.

Grover reads a library book that introduces the characteristics of a variety of baby animals.