Born to perform
Anamazie
Anamazie is an attractive, multi-talented girl. She is a busy turkey who balances baton twirling, singing, and dancing lessons. After leading the Wattle View School Marching Band down Gobbleville's Main Street and appearing in a talent show, she realizes her dream of being in the movies.
Readers follow the main character on her journey from being a turkey in a small town to the big city of Gollywood. Kids ages five to eight get to share in the fun of making movies and her frustrations and learn how to solve problems with a positive attitude.
LaBelle family
Parents, brother, uncles, & grandma.
TOM, Anamazie's dad and the Mayor of Gobbleville, oversees public services and the town council as he dramatically whisks to and from various events. Her mom, HENRIETTA PEARL, drives the kids to activities and stars in productions at the Korn-a-Plenty Community Theatre. Big brother, TOMMY JR., is an aspiring Rock-n-Roll artist, but his parents want him to be a Gizzardologist.
UNCLE BUMBLE is the only handyman in Gobbleville. His complicated and clumsy way of fixing things ends up with a broken wing for himself and customers wondering what happened. UNCLE GEORGE is dressed in full colonial garb and starts every sentence with, "I remember when..." GRANDMA MIMI is a cranky old lady but no frail flower. As head of the Vegan Enforcers SWAT team, she is tenacious in ensuring the turkeys only eat vegetables.
Townsfolk
Gobbleville is a community where everyone knows each other. Eccentric turkeys flourish in this town.
The irrepressible JUDGE JINNY holds court as the presiding judge at City Hall. Her no-nonsense and concise approach is shocking, but her word is final. She believes in tough love, even involving someone from her family.
AGNES, the ballet teacher at the Gotta Flap Dance Studio, is a fanatic about personal hygiene—also an influence of discipline in everyday life. MISS STIKKLEBOWER teaches general education at Wattle View School.
AUDREY owns the Feather Fluff Salon and is always "dressed up to the nines." This gossip queen is on the pulse of what's happening in town. The story expands like a corn soufflé with each turkey she talks to.
ENID is a server at the Okie-Dokie Diner. She starts with, "Yeah, whada ya want," while chewing gum. Someone may innocently ask, "What's the special?" Enid replies, "How about a knuckle sandwich?"
ZIONA works at the Spick & Span Cleaners. She is a close talker and always in a cheerful mood. HOOSER and SPARKEY are firemen at The Spring Valley Fire Department. They enjoy appearing in parades. JIM is the personal trainer at Slim Gym. He's a robust bird and wears close-fitting t-shirts. GRANT is the teller at the Bank of Gobblevillle.
ARBUCKLE, the manager at Kee-Kee-Run arcade, looks tough but has a heart of gold. ROWAN checks out the shoes at Fan-the-Tail Lanes and personally sets up the wooden pins. REED is everyone's favorite grocer at Reed's Feed Shop.
Where to find
Gollywood, Here I Come! is an Amazon #1 Bestseller written by Terry John Barto, with illustrations by Mattia Cerato.
The book is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.