When I Was a Turkey

A naturalist recalls his year as a turkey “mother.”

In 1991, wildlife lover Hutto hatched, imprinted, and raised two clutches of wild turkey eggs, entering their wild world for over a year. He later published a book about this experience, Illumination in the Flatwoods: A Season Living Among the Wild Turkeys (1995). A re-creation of his experience by actor Jeff Palmer became a PBS documentary, My Life as a Turkey, the basis for this chronologically told account, which is chock-full of details about turkey life and even some deaths. Co-written with Guiberson, the third-person narrative reflects Hutto’s thoughts at the time. It’s both a record of an intense experience and a reflection on human relationships with the natural world. After the eggs hatched, the new “mother” spent most of his daylight hours watching and exploring with his turkey family, seeing his Florida fields and forest through their eyes. He was especially surprised to discover how much more wildlife he saw as part of the flock. After his jakes and hens had matured and left, he missed the window they offered. He was thrilled when one, Turkey Boy, returned to share a few more months with him before disappearing for good. The author’s drawings and a section of photographs complete the package.

Gr 5-8—Based on an Emmy Award-winning documentary of the same name, this describes the two years the naturalist and author spent as a wild turkey mother. Having been given two clutches of wild turkey eggs rescued from Florida's flatwoods, Hutto incubated the eggs and made sure that he was the first thing each chick made eye contact with when it hatched. With the imprint complete, he became a full-time caretaker, supplying their physical needs and protecting them as best he could. Despite his concentrated efforts, some would fall prey to predators. In the process of becoming a turkey mother, Hutto took extensive notes and made detailed drawings of his flock. The text describes many of the day-to-day activities for turkeys, such as eating grasshoppers, finding snakes, and determining which snakes to be afraid of as well as foraging for berries and meeting other wild turkeys. At the same time, Hutto learned to "speak turkey." The text reads easily and is liberally illustrated with his excellent pencil drawings. Many black-and-white photos are also included. VERDICT This title is well done, and should be a first choice for libraries needing middle grade nonfiction materials.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"The text reads easily and is liberally illustrated with his excellent pencil drawings. Well done, and should be a first choice for libraries."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Both a record of an intense experience and a reflection on human relationships with the natural world. . . Young nature lovers will gobble this up."—Kirkus Reviews

"Fascinating . . . Guiberson has written many good science books for children. Hutto's precise, shaded pencil drawings illustrate his story along with two maps and a section of photos. An unusual, engaging choice for animal-lovers."—Booklist