Going Home: The Mystery of Animal Migration

by Marianne Berkes, Jennifer DiRubbio (Illustrator)

Overview

By air, land, and sea, migrating animals are "going home." Salmon, turtles, whales and manatees travel by sea. Hummingbirds, butterflies and geese fly with determination. And caribou thunder across vast plains. Both illustrations and text capture a sense of movement and purpose - plus a sense of mystery and amazement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584691273
Publisher:	Dawn Publications
Publication date:	03/28/2010
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	179,740
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

This creative nonfiction book explains the migration patterns of ten animals. The animals, primarily North American, include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and insects. Every two-page spread includes a poem narrated in first person by the featured animal, followed by a prose paragraph naming the animal and giving more migration facts. Still more information is provided by the illustrations, which show each animal's habitat. Each part of this book works well. The simple verses, each beginning with the refrain "Going home, going home," retain their rhythm and rhyme scheme without becoming forced or sing-songy. The prose paragraphs do not follow any particular formula but rather share whatever is most noteworthy about each animal's migration, whether it be the reason, the route, or survival strategies during the voyage. Each illustration features one animal in almost photographic detail, while the background and surrounding animals are portrayed in soft focus. The illustrator's colorful but slightly muted palette adds to the pictures' gentle tone. The final illustration shows a color-coded map of all ten species' migratory patterns. An appendix offers still more detailed information about these animals, as well as a list of websites for further research. For teachers, the author suggests activities suitable for a first through third grade classroom. With its flexible text—a younger audience could be read just the poems, while the oldest readers could pursue the additional information in the appendix—this book is appropriate for ages four through nine; the inviting and informative pictures will also appeal to this wide range. Overall, this is a good nonfiction choice for home or school. Reviewer: Deborah Steinig

Children's Literature - Deborah Steinig

Gr 3–4—Teachers especially will welcome this poetic look at animal migration patterns. Ten critters, ranging from Canada geese to caribou and loggerhead turtles, celebrate their "going home" with a rhyme, a small paragraph of information, and a colorful, realistic illustration spreading across facing pages. A large map helps readers follow migratory patterns, and a closing section contains a look at the "mystery" of migration, further data on the creatures in focus, and a handy-dandy passel of suggestions, such as to "Write Your Own Story" about an animal not included in this book. Similar in scope to Berkes's Over in the Arctic (2008) and Over in the Jungle (2007, both Dawn), the book is a pleasant way to tie creative writing and natural history in a simple package.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

A creative-nonfiction look at animal migration. Each spread focuses on one animal, describing both its journey and the reason behind it-the change of season, to give birth or to search for food and water. An additional paragraph rounds out the information presented in the rhyming verses-a good thing, as the poetry is weak, to say the least. The animals include a good mix of fauna from land, sea and air, and many will be familiar to readers. A final spread combines the migration routes of all the animals on a map focused on North America. DiRubbio's realistic artwork places each animal in its own environment, complete with the surrounding colors and flora. While highlighting the individual animal "speaking" in the verses, she also depicts whether the animal is usually a part of a herd or solitary. Extensive backmatter features more facts about migration, a paragraph of further information about each animal, some activity ideas from the author including another example of creative-nonfiction writing and a list of resources for learning more about the animals presented. A solid introductory look at animal migration in a form that the youngest readers will appreciate. (Illustrated picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews