I Am the Turkey (I Can Read Books: Level 2

by Joy Allen Michele Sobel Spirn, Joy Allen (Illustrator)

Mark is so excited to be the turkey in his class Thanksgiving play -- until he discovers what the turkey's real role was in the first Thanksgiving dinner!

Genres: Thanksgiving, Childrens, Holiday, Picture Books, School

48 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2004

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book’s title reminds me of “I am the Walrus” for some reason. I keep singing the song in my head while I read it.j

This beginning self-reading book is about a class putting on a play and the boy who plays the turkey. He ends up saving the play. It’s a cute story for kids to read themselves about the holiday. Nice big print, simple sentences and straight forward story. Again, it’s a Thanksgiving story about the 1st Thanksgiving, but it doesn’t really go into the myth, simply that there were Indians and pilgrims is all they say.

I didn’t read it to my nephew and my niece would read it herself, so I had to read it too her. I’m trying to get her into theatre, so needs a drama outlet. She gave the book only 2 stars - tough critic. She prefers a female protagonist at this point in her life. She doesn’t relate to stories about boys.

[Mariah Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book that talks about the importance of working hard and standing up for yourself.

[Anna Frame · Rating 4 out of 5]

PERSONAL REACTION
I really enjoyed this book because it is a cute story about an elementary school play and the illustrations were great. I think this is a book a lot of children would enjoy reading and most of them would be able to relate to the main character. It is a good book for kids to transition for beginning to read books to chapter books.

PURPOSE/USE IN CLASSROOM
-this is a great book and it could be read aloud in the classroom when students are reading realistic fiction books because it is about a school play and that is something that is common throughout elementary schools
-this could also be used when teaching students about thanksgiving
-I would use this book as an independent reading book in my classroom, probably for students in 1st and 2nd grade because there are more words per page and there are very short chapters which is great for transitioning them from picture/beginning to read books to chapter books
-this would also be a great book to use when introducing the use of dialogue in literature because there is simple dialogue that is exchanged between different characters in this book
-conflict could be taught using this because once Mark finds out what part he got in the school play, he doesn't want to do it anymore but still has too
-this also is a great story to show kids that making the best out of every situation will be beneficial

Overall, this book is one that I will remember because I want to use it in my classroom. I love the story and the short chapters help break up the increase in words on the page that students are beginning to experience when reading. I think its a great book about thanksgiving and I think that other students would enjoy it just as much as I did, if not more.

[Kristel · Rating 2 out of 5]

In I Am the Turkey, Mark plays the role of the turkey in the second-grade Thanksgiving play. He initially thinks its an important part but his older brother teases him about the role so Mark begins to worry about being on stage. This early reader (2nd level) has very short sentences with repetitive words and simple, colored illustrations on every page, even those with text. The illustrations are drawn in thick pen and then primary colors fill in the space, giving a comical view of Mark's facial expressions on nearly every page. This book will be especially amusing for young boys with nose-picking and throwing up incident. The book does not teach children any historical facts about Thanksgiving; it is more about Mark overcoming his worry about looking foolish and his interactions with his older brother. Not recommended for public libraries unless lacking in beginning readers that appeal to boys.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Background: After a reading program at the public library where I work (kids read to our volunteer therapy dogs), the grandmother of a child brought this book to me. She wasn't complaining - they just happened to have it in their hands. I joked with both of them about this title, saying it's the story of my life. I decided to read it as it looked like a cute beginning reader about Thanksgiving. There are excellent illustrations to provide context clues for emerging readers and the main character's feelings are relateable. Essentially, though, this story is problematic for it depicts a school play about the first Thanksgiving with stereotypical Pilgrim and native dress. For a book published in 2004, this is shockingly insensitive to First Nations. The vocabulary word used to describe First People is Indians and it's used repeatedly. Pass on this title if you want to introduce your child to other cultures and people in a more sensitive and inclusive way. Not recommended.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark was chosen to be the Thanksgiving turkey in the school play. He's happy with the part until his older brother makes fun of him and tells him he's dead in the end when the Pilgrims and Indians eat him for Thanksgiving dinner. Mark unsuccessfully tries to get out of the play. He ends up being a hit as he runs around trying to hide so as not to be eaten, and he saves the play when the classmate who is a Pilgrim can't say his lines. It's a quick read and a good beginning holiday book.

[Vanessa Esparza · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I think about Mark is that he is a nice boy.Mark got chosen on a school play and when he went home it was dinner.Mark's dad ask him "How was school?" Mark told his family that he was going to be the class turkey for the play. Mark's brother Tim made fun of him and Mark said "This is the worst part I ever got". When the class play started, Mark was looking out of the curtains and he saw his family. Mark saw that his brother was picking his nose. At the end, mark was not nervous anymore.

[Lia]

Picture Book #11

I am the Turkey was about a boy and his class was going to put on a play for Thanksgiving. He wanted to be a big role- a pilgrim or indian- but ended up being the turkey. He was really happy about this until his brother told him that the turkey was a lame part in the play. The night of the play, one of the main characters forgot his lines and the turkey came up big! He saved the play and his teacher, parents, and classmates were very proud of him.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite long for a Level 2 Easy Reader, but the story is cute and funny. It's divided into sections, so we took it in two days, three small reading increments, as Alice gets tired of working through books of any length still. Mark is selected to be the turkey in his school's Thanksgiving Day play and can't decide whether the part is a good one or a bad one. Ultimately, he saves the day and the play when a pilgrim gets sick on stage.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book that my son picked out at the library. It's an I-Can-Read book. It has a total of 47 pages, which may be intimidating to a brand new reader. However, it is divided in to 3 sections, so if your brand new reader wants to take a break he can. The story was very enjoyable, and kept my son's attention.

[Ashley Lahr]

#3
This book was about Mark. The second grade class is having a thanksgiving play. Mark gets to be the turkey. At first he is really excited because he thinks it is a good part. He then finds out that they eat the turkey. At the end of the play one of the pilgrims gets stage fright and the turkey saves the show!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reader about the class thanksgiving play for which Mark has disappointingly been appointed the role of turkey. In the end he saves the day...and the play.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read during a first grade class visit to the Tenley library on 11/16/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

For once I'd like to see a red head in a positive rile instead of being the nerd, bully or brat. That just sends such a negative message to children with red hair.

[Elanor]

All by herself!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book to my family on Marco Polo in anticipation of Thanksgiving. Loved the illustrations, and the word play with Turkey. It was a cute story, and I really am loving this connection to my family.

[Tara Dryml]

This story is about Mark who is in second grade. Mark and his classmates are putting on a Thanksgiving Day play, and Mark is assigned the role of the turkey. After a while, Mark tries to get out of being the turkey for the play but in the end, the "turkey" saves the day! (Picture Book.)

[Nichole · Rating 1 out of 5]

*sigh* It is so hard to find Thanksgiving books that aren't insensitive. This story is about a play and the storyline itself is ok, but the illustrations show the stereotypical depictions of Native Americans that a typical school play would use.

[Elizabeth]

AR 2.0

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark is at first excited about and then anxious about his role in the second-grade Thanksgiving play. In the end, his teacher is pleased that he saves the play!

[Tugce Tuncdemir · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book includes stereotypical Pilgrims, Indians, and their dresses. This is not respectful to the cultures.

[Catherine]

An easy reader book that will be enjoyed by 6 or 7 year old beginning readers. They will identify with the humor.

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my kids chose this one and I'm glad they did. It's a level 2 reader, so it is above their reading level right now, but they really enjoyed reading the story with me. Mark hopes he gets a good part and is told that the turkey is a good part, until he begins to get teased. I love what Mark does to prove his part is the best.