When I Was a Turkey: Based on the Emmy Award-Winning PBS Documentary My Life as a Turkey

Author: Hutto, Joe

Number Of Pages: 192

Details:

When I Was a Turkey is a middle-grade adaptation of the remarkable true story of a naturalist who raised a flock of wild turkeys using imprinting.After a local farmer left a bowl of wild turkey eggs on Joe Hutto’s front porch, his life was forever changed. Hutto incubated the eggs and waited for them to hatch. Deep in the wilds of Florida’s Flatlands, Hutto spent each day living as a turkey mother, taking on the full-time job of raising sixteen turkey chicks. For two years, Hutto dutifully cared for his family, roosting with them, taking them foraging, and immersing himself in their world. In return, they taught him how to see the world through their eyes. Here is the remarkable true story of a man with a singular gift to connect with nature. A Christy Ottaviano Book From School Library Journal 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

Reviews:

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

About the Author:

Joe Hutto is a nationally recognized naturalist and wildlife artist. He lives in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. He is the award-winning author of Illumination in the Flatwoods, the book that inspired the documentary film My Life As a Turkey. Brenda Z. Guiberson has written many books for children, including Cactus Hotel, Spoonbill Swamp, Moon Bear and Disasters. As a child, Brenda never thought she wanted to be a writer―her dreams tended more toward jungle explorer. She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in English and Fine Art. She started thinking about writing for children when her son went to elementary school, and she volunteered in his class and in the school library. After taking exciting trips that involved a fifty-foot cactus, hungry alligators and sunset-colored spoonbills, she wanted to create books for children that would be like a field trip. Her books are full of well-researched detail, and Brenda sees this research as an adventure―one that allows her to be a jungle explorer at last. She lives in Seattle, Washington....

EAN: 9781627793858

Release Date: 07-11-2017

Languages: English

Item Condition: New

Binding: Hardcover