My delightful little drumsticks, get ready to gobble-gobble plates, that is, pages full of holiday fun with TURKEY ON THE RUN! Written by Alayne Kay Christian, illustrated by Neha Rawat, and published by Penguin Random House, this fast-paced feast of a story will be released on September 29, 2026. Preorder today and/or enter to win a copy of your very own. Find out how below, but first, dive into this delicious guest interview with the author herself.

Welcome Alayne Kay Christian!

TURKEY ON THE RUN! is written in rhyme—how challenging is that for you?

Last year, I started writing more and more rhyme, so it’s not quite as challenging as it used to be. But I absolutely love the challenge of deep concentration and puzzle solving. Putting a rhyming puzzle together is like heaven for me. The most challenging thing about rhyme is revision. So, you think you have everything perfect, and then you send the manuscript to your critique groups and learn that it still need work. Being locked into rhyme schemes, metrical patterns, and rhyme itself makes every edit a challenge. As much as I love getting lost in the puzzle of rhyme, it can sometimes become frustrating. And then finally, it seems like the manuscript has passed the test with critique partners, and it’s time to sub. Sometimes, your agent suggests edits, and then in time, if you’re lucky, you sign a publishing contract, and the editor requests changes. Yikes! Back to the rhyming puzzle solving once more, or twice more, or three times more. Ha, ha. Now, I must say, even though it can feel torture at times, my stories always end up being better than I could have ever imagined. So, in the end, I am grateful for critique partners, agent, and editors.

What was the spark that inspired you to write this book?

I think this Thanksgiving Card that I made over twenty years ago says it all. I think I might have gotten some of it from a craft book, so I’m not sure I can take full credit for the card. However, the humor of it stuck with me, and I believe I was inspired by a Picture Book Idea Month (now called Storystorm) to try it as a fractured fairy tale. Following the old original versions of The Gingerbread Man gave me trouble because it was very wordy, so it took about a million versions before I found where the story needed to be.

What do you enjoy most about Thanksgiving?

In 2005, my husband and I moved away from Chicagoland where we both grew up. We landed in Raleigh NC where friends took us in for Thanksgiving. Then we moved on to the Dallas area in 2009 where another friend took us in for Thanksgiving, and we haven’t missed one at her house since—except for the dreaded Covid year. So, I am grateful for Friendsgiving. But I also love the memories of my family Thanksgivings as a child, my Thanksgivings as a young married adult where I got to host, our Thanksgivings where we took in friends who had nowhere else to go, and our Thanksgivings when our young married daughter’s turn came around to host. I love how my mouth waters when I think of the recipes my husband used to make that we no longer have—except for the dreaded Covid year, which is actually another nice memory. Most of all, I love taking time to stop and consider all that I am thankful for each year.

How could teachers incorporate your book into their lesson plans?

I have a page on my website where teachers can download classroom companions for TURKEY ON THE RUN! There are questions for students related to comprehension, observation, inference, etc. There are vocabulary worksheets and puzzles, contrast and compare Venn diagrams and T-charts, writing and drawing exercise, sequencing worksheets, crafts and much more. I am gradually adding more companions to the web page, so teachers should keep checking back. I expect to get some worksheets and coloring sheets for the youngest readers in the near future.

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Here’s how to enter to win a copy of TURKEY ON THE RUN!

It’s as easy dripping gravy on your lap! Just drop a word or two in the comment section about your favorite Thanksgiving fixin’ OR tell us something you’re especially thankful for this year. See, simple! But don’t delay. You must enter by midnight on Thursday, September 3. We’ll contact the winner right away!

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Where to find TURKEY ON THE RUN! (Gravy sold separately!)

Among many fine booksellers, TURKEY ON THE RUN! is available from Penguin Random House. It is available for preorder and will be released on September 29.

Get to know Alayne

Alayne Kay Christian is a former acquisitions editor, an award-winning children’s book author, and a picture book writing mentor/teacher. Her top published picture books are . . .

Turkey on the Run!

An Old Man and His Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin

The Weed That Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Story of the Toledo Christmas Weed

Born in the Rockies, raised in Chicago, and now a true-blue Texan, Alayne’s writing shares her creative spirit, the kinship to nature and humanity that reside within her heart, and a bit of her funny bone.

Alayne is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has studied picture book and chapter book writing under some of the top names in children’s literature. Alayne teaches a picture book writing course Art of Arc: How to Analyze Your Picture Book Manuscript (deepen your understanding of picture books written with a classic arc). In addition, she shares her knowledge with writers through free and affordable webinars and she is available for school visits and speaking engagements.

Learn even more about Alayne on visit her website and her blog.