Tom Turkey And Erik Eagle: or How the Eagle Became the American Symbol

By Sandra Calder Davidson

When the Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, to pick a national symbol for the new country, they just could not agree. Elder statesman Ben Franklin preferred the turkey, but George Washington championed the mighty eagle. So they asked Ben’s new friend, Drew Duck, to help them decide. Drew flew back to his home in Wilderbrush Forest and asked his animal friends to help him. Several candidates said they’d be perfect, but finally, the choice came down to Tom Turkey or Erik Eagle. Most favored kind and gentle Tom. Besides, ferocious Eagle scared them silly. But then they thought: if Eagle was elected he would have to be good! So Drew Duck called them all together, and when all the votes were counted, Eagle it was! And that is how the eagle became our national symbol and how the creatures of Wilderbrush Forest learned that democracy is the best way to solve all problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcade
• Release date: Nov 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781628723496

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

DREW DUCK AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

The Founding Fathers met every day at Town Hall in Brotherhood City.

One morning they arrived to find Benjamin Franklin sitting there with a duck on his knee!

What was old Ben up to today? they wondered.

We have a problem, Ben said. "A BIG problem. But Drew Duck from Wilderbrush Forest is going to help us solve it.

We’ve talked and talked and still can’t agree on a symbol for our new country, Ben said. As you know, I prefer the turkey, but General Washington favors the eagle…

You should know that nobody in Wilderbrush Forest likes the eagle, Drew said, looking up at Washington. He’s too scary!

"Why, just the other day at Raindrop Pond, Henry Heron was about to enjoy his favorite lunch, a catfish, when down swooped Erik Eagle and stole it right out of Heron’s beak. Imagine that! Seeing how upset Heron was, brave little Kingfisher flew