Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Albert Whitman & Company (2016), 32 pages
Description
" Although Mel and his family have lived in America for several years, they have never celebrated Thanksgiving, just the Jewish holidays. But this year, after Papa wins a turkey at work, Mama invites all their relatives to their Brooklyn tenement for dinner. There's just one thing -- Mel has a soft spot for the turkey! "--
Awards
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Mass Import -- Pending Differentiation)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Mel's family is newly arrived in America, and considering celebrating their first Thanksgiving when his father wins a huge turkey in a raffle at work. Bringing this unexpected largesse home with him on the subway, Mr. Silberklang discovers that such a large bird makes a lot of noise and attracts
I enjoyed Not This Turkey!, which works very well as both a Thanksgiving and as an immigrant story, and which is apparently based on the real experiences of a family named Silberklang, with whom author Jessica Steinberg is friends. As someone who spent a few years living abroad, moreover, I identified with the little author blurb on the rear dust-jacket, informing the reader that Steinberg, who currently resides in Israel, must go to great lengths to celebrate this holiday that is all but unknown in her current country of residence. This is a tale that would work especially well for vegetarian children and their families, as Indik is spared in the end, and Mel's family celebrate a turkey-less Thanksgiving. Recommended to anyone looking for new Thanksgiving tales, or stories about newly arrived Americans adjusting to life in their new country, and adopting its traditions in their own unique ways. There's even a recipe for Cranberry Apple Kugel at the rear!
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quite a bit of attention. For his part, Mel finds that Indik - a name taken from the Yiddish word for turkey - is an interesting companion, and not at all what he wants to have for his holiday dinner. When Mr. Cohen, the local butcher, informs Mel and his father that Indik is too old and tough to eat, Mel is relieved, and his family discover that they can bring their own food traditions to the celebration of this new holiday...I enjoyed Not This Turkey!, which works very well as both a Thanksgiving and as an immigrant story, and which is apparently based on the real experiences of a family named Silberklang, with whom author Jessica Steinberg is friends. As someone who spent a few years living abroad, moreover, I identified with the little author blurb on the rear dust-jacket, informing the reader that Steinberg, who currently resides in Israel, must go to great lengths to celebrate this holiday that is all but unknown in her current country of residence. This is a tale that would work especially well for vegetarian children and their families, as Indik is spared in the end, and Mel's family celebrate a turkey-less Thanksgiving. Recommended to anyone looking for new Thanksgiving tales, or stories about newly arrived Americans adjusting to life in their new country, and adopting its traditions in their own unique ways. There's even a recipe for Cranberry Apple Kugel at the rear!
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ISBN
0807579084 / 9780807579084
Other editions
Not This Turkey by Jessica Steinberg (Paperback)