Migration Nation

AAAS/Subarbu SB & F Prize Finalist for Excellence in Science Writing for Children

It's hard to remember when we were first taught that birds fly south for the winter and head back north for the summer, but the larger scope of animal migrations is one that is likely to capture the imagination of most children. From the National Wildlife Foundation, this book examines the mostly seasonal movements of animals in North America. The animals profiled fly, swim, roam, and slither across their habitats for ranges that span the relatively short 1/4-to 5-mile movements of 35 species of snakes and amphibians on the "Snake Road" in Illinois to the up to 10,000-mile coastal journey of gray whales from Mexico to Alaska. Highlighting diverse animals—including insects, fish, herptiles, mammals, and birds—maps and pictures are put to good use as the text discusses why animals are driven to move and how their journeys are being affected by humans and human-related changes in the environment. Parents will especially like the introduction and definition of new vocabulary words and concepts as applied to animal movements, as well as the glossary at the end of the book. Each section ends with a list of websites parents can explore with their children to learn more about the species profiled.
-Science Magazine