Gobble Gobble

Like all of the children’s books from Dawn Publications, Gobble Gobble is both beautifully illustrated and also fulfills the Nevada City publisher’s mission of “connecting children and nature.” Author/illustrator Cathryn Falwell tells the wild turkey’s story throughout the seasons of the year as witnessed by a young girl named Jenny in her wooded back yard. I’m a kindergarten teacher who loves to read fun stories like this to her students, and it’s a bonus when my read-aloud books also complement the curriculum. Gobble Gobble’s combination of rhythmic, rhyming prose (“Summer days are filled with sun/ Turkey babies hatch and run!”) and fact-based natural science does just that. This book is appropriate for any time of the year, but I know I’ll be bringing it out as we approach Thanksgiving, because I’d love my students to know that the turkeys they enjoy for their feasts are something more than the giant frozen cannon balls they’re accustomed to seeing in their parents’ shopping carts. Falwell has included additional facts about wild and domestic turkeys at the end of the book, along with some tips for projects—including making collaged turkeys and writing a nature journal.