New ebooks From Canadian Indies
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.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- 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 Toy Testing Council's Great Book List
- Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens, STARRED SELECTION
- Long-listed, Cybils Awards, Elementary/Middle-Grade Nonfiction category
- , OLA Best Bets Top 10 Picture Books List, Honourable Mention
Editorial Reviews
"The 'fine art' illustrations are exquisite and will to be savored as much as the story."
— California Kids Magazine
"A fun survey of winter migrations."
— Ithaca Child
"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
Illustrator Soyeon Kim's artwork is picture perfect ... a dandy read-aloud and resource choice for units on animal migration.
— Books For Kids Blog
Together, the text and images help make sense of a few of nature's curiosities. A truly educational journey.
— Booklist Review
"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
An unusual and attractive take on a perennially absorbing topic.
— Kirkus 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
"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
"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
