Gollywood, Here I Come!

Who doesn’t fantasize about becoming a big movie star, living up all the glitz, glam and glory that comes with it? A talented little turkey named Anamazie Marie LaBelle sure does, and her dream becomes reality in the delightful children’s book Gollywood Here I Come!, written by director/choreographer-turned author Terry John Barto.

Growing up in the small town of Gobbleville, Anamazie studied acting, singing and dancing while basking in the local spotlight as a star baton twirler. Opportunity comes knocking when the competition Gobbleville’s Got Talent gives Anamazie her shot at being discovered. With her mom Henrietta at her back, she makes it all the way to the finals, but falls short of the top prize. That is where her path to stardom truly begins as she is discovered by a talent scout, is cast in her first movie and declares “Gollywood, Here I Come!”

With colorful whimsical illustrations by Mattia Cerato, Gollywood Here I Come! taps into current pop culture trends of TV shows like “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol; and the public’s fascination with celebrities and movie stars. At its heart, the story leaves young readers with the positive message “You can do anything if you work hard and never give up.”