Diary of a Pet Turkey

A proud turkey chronicles her life from her time as an egg onward, with sidebars providing facts about the species. Named “Magic Marker” by her adoptive human family, due to her squeaky peep, the turkey first lives indoors, eventually moving into an outdoor pen. Despite the nature of the conceit, the turkey’s narrative is rather reportorial. Ingis’s attempt to make Magic Marker a pet, a family member, and a resource results in some uncomfortable moments: when Magic Marker lays an egg, the family’s human mother declares it her “grandchild,” but it’s fried up for breakfast on the next page. Binny’s pen-and-ink cartoons bring a quirky vibe to this offbeat story about the value of family pets. A blank notebook is included for readers to create their own pet diaries. Ages 5–8. (Oct.)