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Turkey Trick or Treat Written by Wendi Silvano Illustrated by Lee Harper Two Lions    8/11/2015 978-1-4778-7503-2 32 pages       Age 4—8 “Everyone loves Halloween candy—even Turkey. But how can he and his barnyard friends get any when the farmers only give it out children? With a costume, of course! As his pals …

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   10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston & illustrated by Rich Deas “Looky!” says a silly turkey swinging from a vine. Gobble gobble wibble wobble. Whoops! Now there are nine.” Girls and boys will gobble up this hilarious counting story about ten goofy turkeys roller-skating on a fence, doing a noodle dance, and more! Give …

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I really think you will enjoy your visit this week with Lee Harper.  I remember a few years back, when he attended an SCBWI event and drew immediate attention.  You will see why as you scroll down to his artwork.  Here is Lee in his own words:

When I was a kid, art was important to me — it was a special world I could visit when I needed to escape the tumultuous reality of my dysfunctional family life. I loved inventing alternative worlds, and I loved entering the worlds other artists created in books. I got to be quite a connoisseur. By second grade I could tell the real artists from the artists just out to make a buck. I could tell that artists just doing a job from nine to five drew my Hot Wheels coloring book, and that a real artist drew Fox in Sox.

My abilities in art led me to a place called the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where I majored in drawing, painting, and sculpting in clay. It was at the Academy where I learned Dr. Seuss was just an illustrator. I learned illustrators (the word ‘illustrators’ was usually spoken in the same tone Seinfeld uses when he says ‘Newman’) were kind of like fine artists who’d sold their soul. Fine artists draw figures, still-lives, landscapes, or sometimes abstractions. So that’s what I did. I still did caricatures of my friends for fun, but I didn’t dare risk the ridicule I’d have received had I shown those drawings to my instructors. I was a fine artist now. Fine artist don’t draw cartoons.

After I graduated I got married and started a family. I found it impossible to survive as a fine artist. So to earn a living I started a picture framing business. The idea was to grow the business to the point where I could have assistants do most of the framing, and then I would get back to my real life’s work of being a fine artist. The plan was going well.  The business grew for many years, I had great employees that were starting to handle the workload, and by 1999 I’d grown out of my workspace and set up a new shop/art studio in New Hope, PA. It turned out to be a disastrous move. It never took root. Who’d have thought people would need a place to park their cars? Instead of relocating, I decided to use the business failure as an opportunity to try something new. After all, it wasn’t like I loved framing pictures.  It was just the means to the end.

First I tried landscape architecture. After a few college courses involving the memorization of plant names I realized landscape architecture wasn’t going to work.  I was terrible at memorizing plant names. Then I switched my focus to ventriloquist dummy making, but that didn’t last long, either. My wife said she would divorce me if I became a ventriloquist dummy maker. I changed focus again…this time to real estate sales. I went on a few sales calls and quickly realized I’m not a real estate salesperson. I needed to make things. But whatever I did, I was determined that I would stay true to the ideals of fine art. I would keep that part of me pure. I wouldn’t sell my soul.

Around this time I was making abstract art. I found a gallery to represent me, and began selling my abstractions. But the way I felt about art was changing. It was no longer something I did as an escape from reality like it was when I was a kid. So why was I doing it? I asked myself. I found myself questioning the basic principals of fine art that I’d learned at the Academy. Why was I working so hard to create something that would probably just end up decorating the mansion of Tyler Greystone, the CEO of Greystone Enterprises, and then after h

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Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. Illustrated by Lee Harper. Marshall Cavendish Children's Books. 2009. Review copy supplied by publisher.

The Plot: Thanksgiving is coming. Turkey realizes that he is in trouble. What to do? Turkey is a bird of a zillion disguises. First a horse... a cow... a pig. But are any of those farm animals safe? What's a turkey to do?

The Good: Older kids will enjoy Turkey's desperate attempts to avoid his fate, as well as his clever solution.

Harper's illustrations show that Turkey is quite inventive in his costumes. In addition to just being funny, as Turkey hides readers will have fun guessing what Turkey will try to be next.

I do have one small quibble with these types of books; that is, where the main course is shown to be cute and sympathetic. I have images of kids coming home from the library story hour, refusing to eat the turkey dinner. Has anyone ever had that happen? Or are the "I read Charlotte's Web and never ate ham again" kids few and far between?


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© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

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The best way is to find one abandoned on the street, thrown out by someone who just doesn't appreciate it. I'm still haunted by the one I found several years ago, kept for a bit, then decided I didn't need anymore. I know now that it was a suitcase from the 30s, and it would be kind of nice to have it now.
But I lucked out (after some fruitless searching yesterday on Queen W), when I went to the St. Lawrence Sunday Market flea market. I have to admit that I'm definitely a night owl, so I usually get down to the market by around noon. But I'm haunted by an old work friend who asked me when I usually go to the market, and was shocked by my answer. He assured me that by noon only detritus was left, and there was no point in going. That's the word I always think of, ringing in my ears: "detritus... detritus... detritusss..."

So the last couple of times I've managed to get there by around 9 or 10. (Still not the recommended 5am but I'm more likely to stay up until 5am then get down to the market by then.) And I have realized that there is actually better stuff the earlier you go. It starts to get crowded by noon and some of the tables do seem to be picked over.

When I went today to look for a vintage suitcase I was lucky because usually you never find what you're looking for. (You do end up with things you didn't even think of, such as the tiny box of gramaphone needles pictures at the top of this post.) But I actually found one seller who had several vintage suitcases and was very friendly and patient as I opened them up and tried to decide which size, which colours, which condition, which lining. I love the one I finally picked, so while I'm no expert here are the features I can suggest that you might want to look for.

1. materials: some are made from cardboard, some leather and some are made from coated wood. Mine is made from coated wood and I like it because it's sturdier than cardboard and it has that charming textured finish typical of the 30s/40s suitcase.

2. condition: I was tempted by one with a crack but decided it would be better to have a sturdy one that definitely won't fall apart. Mine has corners reinforced with little metal plates which will help protect it against damage from knocks.

3. smell: definitely check that it doesn't smell musty, especially as that will probably transfer to anything you put into it.
4. latches/hinges: should work easily and seem secure. Ask if there's a key because that's always nice to have.

5. lining: I like pockets and compartments of any kind, and of course colour and type of fabric depends on your taste. I love the grosgrain ribbons in mine that are meant for securing the contents, presumably with a jaunty bow. The satin is a sort of pale tan/grey/champagne kind of colour.
6. outer appearance: Some have stripes, some a mock wool plaid kind of pattern, or you can move ahead to the 60s/70s and get a psychedelic floral number. Mine is mustard yellow with a cream border, and it has a nice nubbly texture that looks like fabric. I suspect that suitcases with a label with the name of the manufacturer are more collectable. It's just nice to know where things come from.

7. size/comfort: mine was large enough to be useful but isn't too heavy and has a comfortable handle.

8. price: you decide, I paid $30 which was well worth it to me.While I was at it I found these darning eggs. The little pink one is apparently a "baby" darning egg. Not sure but I guess it's for darning little booties and such, although I don't like to think of some poor baby wearing worn out socks. This is possibly why I've never seen a "baby" darning egg before but since I bought it at the same place with the suitcase and other darner, the seller gave me a big discount and I couldn't resist the charming little thing.

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