Thanksgiving Rules

g n i v i g s k n Tha

s e u R l

Laurie Friedman

illustrated by

Teresa Murf in

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his rules ill help you eat your ay through the big meal.

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ages 5-9 Reinforced binding

g n i v i g s k n a Th

s e u R l

Laurie Friedman illustrated by

Teresa Murf in

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Carolrhoda Books Minneapolis

•

New York

For my mother, who makes Thanksgiving and every other day a celebration I love you, L.B.F. For Elaine and all my family across the pond —T.M.

Text copyright © 2009 by Laurie B. Friedman Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Teresa Murfin All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review. Carolrhoda Books A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A. Website address: www.lernerbooks.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Friedman, Laurie B. Thanksgiving rules / by Laurie Friedman ; illustrations by Teresa Murfin. p. cm.  Summary: Young Percy Isaac Gifford provides a list of ten rules for getting the most out of Thanksgiving Day, especially how best to enjoy the buffet. ISBN 978–0–8225–7983–0 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)  [1. Stories in rhyme. 2. Thanksgiving Day—Fiction. 3. Rules (Philosophy)— Fiction. 4. Family life—Fiction.] I. Murfin, Teresa, ill. II. Title. PZ8.3.F9116Thd 2009 [E]—dc22 2008038047 Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 – PA – 14 13 12 11 10 09

eISBN: 978-0-7613-5700-1

I’m Percy Today’s

Isaac Gifford.

Thanksgiving

This is my empty stomach. This is the buffet.

Day.

And here’s a little secret: I’m a T h a n k s givin g P r o. When it comes to turkey day, there’s nothing I don’t know.

I get the most out of my holiday. I promise, you can too. Just follow my simple rules. That’s all you have to do.

The first thing you must know: moms like to set a M o o d . They like to control everything from your clothing to the food.

So wear whatever you have to, from your head down to your feet. Remember, the sooner you get dressed, the sooner you can eat.

Next, you have to g e t in v olv e d . Dad likes when I volunteer. He says seeing me help out f ills his heart with cheer.

Now, I know that it’s no fun to sweep or clean or peel. But trust me when I tell you, it’s the fastest way to the meal.

After you’re done cleaning, I’m sure you’ll want to E A T. But you can’t do that just yet. First, you have to g r e e t .

That means when family or friends arrive, you have to be polite. But here’s a helpful tip: it doesn’t have to take all night.

I’m talking about an art form I call T h e Q u i c k H e l l o. A simple, friendly greeting, and then you’re good to go.

The place you should be heading is what I call T h e M a i n E v e n t . It’s best to get there early. For directions: follow the scent.

Now, please take a moment and savor this part of your day. For my friend, you have arrived at the . . .

Here’s where I can be most helpful. It’s time to f i l l y o u r p l a t e . Remember, the round thing in your hand can hold a lot of weight.

Start with piles of turkey. It’s best when nice and hot. Then pour on a little gravy. Better yet, pour on a lot.

From there, you’ll want to add a little something o n t h e side . This part can be tricky. Stick with me. I’ll be your guide.

First, take sweet potatoes. Trust me, they taste good. Don’t be afraid of stuffing, even though it looks like wood.

Definitely try the green beans. For color, add cranberry sauce. If you don’t eat all of these, it will be your loss.

Now the time has come to issue my T h a n k s g ivin g d e c r e e :

Your plate should now be close to full, though hopefully there are holes. My advice: plug them up with piles of dinner rolls.

My friend, you’ve now got what you need. Go find a place to sit. It’s time to gobble up your dinner. EAT EV ERY SIN G LE BIT

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Eat till your plate is squeaky clean. Then go back for more. The s e c o n d t i m e a r o u n d is something I adore.

e. l a n i f e h t or And now f

Sampling some of everything really cannot hurt. You should try each type of pie. Taste every tart or cake. Show that you a p p r e c i a t e everyone who tried to bake.

And while we’re on the subject, appreciation’s a b i g d e a l. Today’s a day to show you’re thankful, and not just for the meal.

It’s a day to show your loved ones just what they mean to you. So before Thanksgiving is over, there’s something I like to do.

I give everyone around me their own Thanksgiving hug. I call it the P e r c y I s a a c S p e ci al, which means it’s BIG and SNUG!

Almost everyone seems to like it. They almost always say, “ H o n i c e.”

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But I must admit that over the years, I’ve been given some advice. Once or twice, it’s been suggested that I modify my technique. . . .

So I now provide the

Overeaters’ Special— a simple, light peck on the cheek.

Laurie Friedman

is the author of the popular Mallory chapter book series, as well as several picture books, including I’m Not Afraid of This Haunted House and Love, Ruby Valentine. Ms. Friedman says she loved writing about Thanksgiving almost as much as she likes celebrating it and wishes her readers a very happy holiday.

Teresa Murfin

is the illustrator of several picture books including I’m Not Afraid of This Haunted House. She lives and works in Bristol, England, where she does her best to follow Percy’s Rule #9.

Jacket illustration © 2009 by Teresa Murfin

t Carolrhoda Books

A division of Lerner Publishing Group 241 First Avenue North • Minneapolis, MN 55401 www.lernerbooks.com Printed and bound in U.S.A.