We love seeing these birds, despite their funny appearance and obsessive digging and scratching. However, not everyone wants piles of leaves and dirt the size of an elephant's footprint and the length/width of a VW Beetle in their yard.
Meet Stanley, a main character in just such a predicament as he's hounded from one possible spot to another with ceaseless shouting: 'You Pest!' 'Get out of here!' 'Argh!' until at last he finds a quiet spot on a hilltop, under a shady mango tree.
With the fierce intensity only a male bush turkey can exhibit, he scratches, digs, heaps and piles an extravagantly sized mound ready for all those lady bush turkeys to come lay their eggs. I have personally seen a couple of females digging themselves an egg hollow in the mound near us, but not yet have I seen any brown, fluff ball chicks.
That's because these chicks are on their own from day-dot, so not many of them make it. Indeed, just last weekend, we were at our favourite beach and a mid-sized goanna came hurtling out of the bush and grabbed a chick before our eyes. With such a tough start for these babies, it's little wonder female bush turkeys lay up to 50 eggs each season.
This terrific little book is a great introduction to these rather oddball birds and their habits, and the back matter has some specific information for little learners. The text is entertaining and engaging, and the illustrations, while cartoon in style, accurately represent all the animals included, especially Stanley.
I think any little readers from around 3 years – right up to 8 or 9 – will enjoy this book. For those older kiddos, it's a charming springboard for some inquiry into urban wildlife.
Title: Stanley
Author: Louise Zirbel and Rachel Salmon
Illustrator: Barry Patenaude
Publisher: Boolarong Press, imprint: Watson Ferguson Publishing, RRP: $24.99
Publication Date: October 2025
ISBN: 9780645504644
Format: Hardback
For Ages: 3 – 8 years
Type: Picture Book
