Talking Turkeys

Story

Turkey’s don’t want to be eaten at Christmas, they just want friends and to enjoy Christmas tv! A poem showing that animals have feelings too!

Why we chose it

Children love the humour of Talking Turkeys and it’s a great poem to perform.

Where it came from

Benjamin Zephaniah describes himself as a poet, writer, musician and naughty boy. He grew up in Birmingham and because of dyslexia left school aged 13 unable to read and write. He started performing poetry, often with a political edge, in his teens, and published Talking Turkeys, his first book of poetry for children, in 1994.

Zephaniah is a powerful advocate for diversity in children’s books, arguing that it is vital for them to see authors, illustrators and story characters like themselves. He is a Vegan himself influencing the Talking Turkeys poem.

Where it went next

Benjamin Zephaniah has been listed in the Times as one of the top 50 Post War writers. He regularly tours his poetry at literary festivals.

Associated stories

Following Talking Turkeys Zephaniah wrote another volume of poems for children, Funky Chickens.

He is also the author of a number of novels for teenagers, Face, Refugee Boy, Gangsta Rap, Teacher’s Dead and Terror Kid.