Is This Panama?

A Migration Story

by Jan Thornhill, illustrated by Soyeon Kim

tagged: birds, weather

Description

When Sammy, a young Wilson's warbler, wakes up one frosty August morning near the Arctic Circle, he instinctively knows that it's time to make his first migratory journey south to Panama. But there's one problem — where's Panama?

All the other warblers having left without him, Sammy sets off on his journey by himself, stopping to ask the same question of each of the different animals that he meets along the way: "Is this Panama?"

From the caribou heading to his winter forest to the monarch butterflies flitting to Mexico, every animal has a different destination and different advice for Sammy on how to find his way. Finally, a flock of his warbler cousins shows Sammy that finding Panama is as easy as following the stars.

Animal migration patterns and seasonal changes are on display throughout this fascinating story, complemented by intricate paper collage, watercolor, and pen-and-ink illustrations.

About the Authors

Jan Thornhill

JAN THORNHILL’s science, nature, and animal-based books have received multiple honors, most recently the Vicky Metcalf award for her body of work. Jan lives in Peterborough County, Ontario, where she spends her spare time looking for weird fungi in the woods with her dog, Ruby.

Soyeon Kim

SOYEON KIM is a Toronto-based, Korean-born artist who specializes in work that merges real-world materials and fine sketching and painting techniques to produce three-dimensional pieces. She is a graduate of the Visual Arts program at York University in Toronto.

Age:: 5 to 8
Grade:: 3 to 5

Awards

Winner, Vicky Metcalf Award for author Jan Thornhill's body of work
Long-listed, Canadian Children's Literature Roundtable's Information Book Award
Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens, STARRED SELECTION
Commended, Canadian Toy Testing Council's Great Book List
Long-listed, Cybils Awards, Elementary/Middle-Grade Nonfiction category
Long-listed, OLA Best Bets Top 10 Picture Books List, Honourable Mention

Editorial Reviews

The beautifully illustrated double page spreads will help readers begin to understand the mystery of migration for a variety of species.

— Sal's Fiction Addiction

An unusual and attractive take on a perennially absorbing topic.

— Kirkus Reviews

"Full of information, including a map of migrations routes, the book gives plenty of information about how different animals migrate to find better nesting grounds or food in addition to a good story."

— Green Teacher

"A fun survey of winter migrations."

— Ithaca Child

Together, the text and images help make sense of a few of nature's curiosities. A truly educational journey.

— Booklist Review

"Delicate, three-dimensional illustrations combine natural materials, sketching, and painting... The pages are beautifully composed to capture the scale of the animals with Sammy providing perspective."

— Student Library Journal

"The 'fine art' illustrations are exquisite and will to be savored as much as the story."

— California Kids Magazine

Illustrator Soyeon Kim's artwork is picture perfect ... a dandy read-aloud and resource choice for units on animal migration.

— Books For Kids Blog

"Thornhill's book is a well-told, beautifully illustrated, and informative one meant to spark children's curiosity and to broaden their engagement with the world around them."

— CM Magazine

"Thornhill nicely captures the tension created by the collision of Sammy's excitement for the mysteries surrounding his first migration with the dangers and hardships associated with the sheer exhausting length of the journey. ...Kim's gorgeous illustrations combine watercolour paintings, ink and cut-paper collages, vibrant in colour and rich in detail."

— Canadian Children's Book News

Out of print

This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.