Turkey Bowl

PreS-Gr 2 The duo who created "Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy" (2002) and "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" (S & S, 2005) offer another sports story. Every Thanksgiving, Ethan's relatives arrive and, through mud, cold, or fog, they play a wild game of football. Ethan and the neighborhood kids watch the action and long for the day when they can join in. The year that they are finally old enough to play, nine-year-old Ethan leaps out of bed and into his uniform, only to discover that a blizzard has closed roads and the family won't be coming. The disappointed boy gathers his friends and they trudge to the school football field, now covered in snow. In the "ah-ha" moment of the tale, they realize that they have enough kids to play themselves, and the wild and joyous snow-filled game that ensues carries on the tradition of the Turkey Bowl. As Ethan catches a final touchdown pass, he realizes that his relatives have indeed made the trip and are cheering him on from the sidelines. Payne's muted, full-color illustrations capture the disappointment and joy the characters experience and feature plenty of gridiron action. Perfect for reading aloud at holiday time, this lively story will resonate year-round with sports fans. - Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

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