Hide-and-Seek Turkeys - Hardcover

Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Jacob Gordon have been writing children's books as a team for several years. Their picture books include Something's Happening on Calabash Street and Two Badd Babies. Their writing has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times and in various magazines for children. Together Judith and Stephanie formed Writers Ink, where they work with other children's book authors. They both live in Ventura, California. Visit their Web site at www.writersinkville.com.

Teresa Murfin graduated with an illustration degree from Falmouth College of Arts. She lives and works in Bristol, England. This is her first picture book.

PreSchool-Grade 1–Young listeners will find this costume drama within a concept book difficult to follow, lacking in logic, and just plain confusing. Ten children dressed as turkeys perform their roles in the play "Hide and Seek" and attempt to escape the notice of a "fox" in a farmer's house. This rhyming story shows one turkey hiding under a wig, but when he is joined by a second, the two must find a more accommodating hiding place–a pair of high-button shoes. Each time the group increases by one, the turkeys seek a larger object in which to shelter themselves: a tricorn hat, a corset, britches, pantaloons, etc. When the fox enters the room, they raise a flap, blowing all the clothing on top of the villain. Just then the farmer arrives, and the turkeys scramble to hide from him. The spatial relationships are all askew–a tricorn hat is big enough to hide three but not four children? The farmer doesn't appear to be gigantic. Also, there is no indication of why the turkeys are so intent on sharing the same hiding space. The text and colorful but subdued-toned acrylic cartoons leave just too many questions.–Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
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