The Great Thanksgiving Escape

K-Gr 3—The perils of a family get-together are drolly told from a child's point of view. While waiting for "turkey time," Gavin's parents tell him to play with the rest of the kids. Surrounded by drooling, stinky babies, he and his co-conspirator, cousin Rhonda, decide to make a break for it and head to the swing set in the backyard. They stealthily plot their escape and crawl along the floor under the cover of winter coats. Obstacles are faced at every turn, including smooches and snuggles from the "HALL OF AUNTS!" Playing with perspective, Fearing's digitally created cartoons show long lines of pantyhosed legs and an aerial shot of outstretched manicured hands reaching for a hug. Funny play-by-play running commentary describes the action as it unfolds. After a dark basement encounter with teenage video game-playing "ZOMBIES," the two young cousins finally make it to the back door. With wide, toothy grins, they gleefully play outside (despite a sudden downpour), exemplifying their credo, "sometimes you have to make your own fun." Expect requests for second helpings of this holiday treat.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada