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Frequent Speech Sounds:

/t/ initial
/er/ medial and final
/k/ medial and final
/z/ medial
/skw/ initial (squawk)
/v/ initial (valley)
/l/ medial (valley)
Themes:

Thanksgiving
clever-thinking
Book Details:
Diverse Characters: Yes
Age Recommendation: Elementary, Late Elementary
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A Plump and Perky Turkey

By Teresa Bateman

When the people of Squawk Valley find themselves without a turkey for their Thanksgiving feast, they hatch a plot to lure one into town: They’ll advertise for a “model” turkey to pose during a turkey-themed arts-and-crafts fair. Once the model is finished posing, he’ll make the perfect main course for the Squawk Valley Thanksgiving feast. But the citizens of Squawk Valley don’t plan on meeting up with a turkey as sly as Pete―a bird so clever, he just may outsmart them all!

This Thanksgiving book can be used to address clever-thinking by the main character. The text is longer, but the rhyme pattern makes it an easy read. It is an excellent book for illustration study and for targeting grammar concepts such as mental-state verbs and compound adjectives! Discover more of the speech and language teaching concepts for using A Plump and Perky Turkey in speech therapy below:

Key Teaching Concepts

Narrative Structure:

complex episode
Narrative Concepts:

vocabulary
problem-solving
character analysis
illustration study
predicting
sequencing
verbs (mental state)
adjectives (compound phrases)
phonological awareness
Sequencing:

order of types of turkeys
Vocabulary:

plump, downhearted, candidates, jamboree, plastered, startled, intrigued, hearty, jaunty, model, qualify, disappear, camouflage
Character Analysis:

The townspeople thought they were being clever when actually, Pete the turkey outsmarted them.
Grammar:

verbs (mental state)
verbs (linguistic)
adjectives (compound phrases)
adjectives
Text Features:

parentheses
text in the illustrations
thought bubbles
dialogue
Phonological Awareness:

rhyming words
alliteration
multisyllabic words
Inferencing:

Why do think the dog and townsfolk are sticking out their tongues?
Why do you think Pete took the oatmeal bird?
How do you think Pete outsmarted the townsfolk?
Predicting:

Where do you think the turkeys go in autumn?
How will they trick a turkey into going to an art fair?
How will they try to trick a turkey into jumping in the pot?
How will they convince a turkey to come to the art show?
Where do you think Pete went?
Do you think they will find Pete?
What do you think the town will do now that Pete is gone?
Problem Solving:

The townsfolk in Squawk Valley developed a plan to catch a turkey for Thanksgiving. It was a good plan; however, they forgot to take into account the turkey’s ability to camouflage.​

If you are interested in seeing other Thanksgiving books to use in therapy, then check out the Seasonal Teaching Points Book List for a printable copy. 

If you are interested in using A Plump and Perky Turkey and other Thanksgiving- themed books in speech therapy, then check out these print-&-go cheat sheets. Perfect for when you don’t need a full book companion.