School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-This charming title, originally published in 1982 (HarperCollins), has been newly illustrated with vibrant, humorous artwork, with wolves instead of people as characters. The trouble begins when the turkey slips from Mrs. Tappleton's grasp and slides out the door, across the lawn, and into the frozen pond. Nonstop hilarity continues and more challenges develop with the pies, mashed potatoes, and even the salad. This family races through the day, experiencing one calamitous food catastrophe after another. However, the guests realize that Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate one another, not the traditional feast. This never-a-dull-moment look at Thanksgiving is a feast for the eyes; the slapstick events that develop are what help to strengthen the family ties. A comical, quirky view of tradition and togetherness, this title will be a surefire hit with the storytime crowd.-Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
First published in 1982, Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' by Eileen Spinelli is being reissued with new art by Megan Lloyd. The illustrations present an all-animal cast (who bear a slight resemblance to Ashley Wolff's furry critters), with the Tappleton clan starring as wolves determined to make the most of it when their roast turkey goes missing. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
After various family members reveal why his or her dish isn't prepared for Thanksgiving dinner, the Tappletons quickly pull a meal together from whatever they can find in the kitchen: liverwurst, cheese, pickles, and applesauce. In the end, they realize Thanksgiving isn't about the food but about being grateful for what they have--one another. Lloyd's new illustrations lend humor to the pointed story. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 5-7. Thanksgiving doesn't turn out quite the way the Tappletons intend. Mother gets up at the crack of dawn to put the turkey in the oven, but thanks to the milkman, the bird slips out of her hands, down the icy sidewalk, and into a pond. Father gets to the bakery too late to get any pies. Brother Kenny has inadvertently fed the salad to his rabbits, and sister Jenny makes a blender mess out of the potatoes. No one, however, confesses, so it's not until the hungry relatives show up that the truth must be faced--no dinner. Not surprisingly, the moral of all this is that the important thing is being together, but before she gets to that tried-and-true adage, Spinelli has a lot of fun along the way. The bird slithers in the snow, mashed potatoes decorate the walls, and Grandpa keeps insisting he's as hungry as an elephant, even while his prospects for food grow dimmer. The text, originally published in 1982 by Addison-Wesley, has been completely reillustrated, and the art captures the slapstick fun. (Reviewed Oct. 1, 1992)0060208716Ilene Cooper
