The Journal: Stories of Migration by Cyntia Rylant

The Journey: Stories of Migration by Cynthia Rylant (48 pages; 1 book) #20

Rylant, Cynthia (2006). The Journey: Stories of Migration. New York, NY: The Blue Sky Press.

Awards: Elgible for Children’s Choice Award 2006

Grade Level: K-4 grades

Author Credibility: I could not find anything that made her accreditable to write the book. She has several degrees and has written award winning books in the past. She was once a librarian and believes that children’s books should be beautifully illustrated. However, I don’t know how and where she did her background search for the book.

Summary/Response: The book discusses the migration of birds, whales, eels, caribou, butterflies, and locusts. It talks of these great travelers and the distance and hardship they face. It is a mystery of how they find their way year after year, even as babies. However, they do and their reasons vary from food to avoid the cold to mating. Reading about these fascinating creatures can leave the reader in awe of Mother Nature’s creatures.

National Standards: Language: Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
Science: Structure and function in living systems, Reproduction and heredity, Regulation and behavior, Populations and ecosystems, Diversity and adaptations of organisms

Illustrations: I could not find any information on the medium the illustrations were painted in, but it looks like water color. Beautiful, colorful full page and two-page-spread paintings.
Access Features: Introduction

Related Texts: What is Migration? (Science of Living Things) by John Crossingham and Bobby Calman, What is Hibernation? (Science of Living Things) by John Crossingham- an alternative to migration

Classroom Use: This book can be used to teach some of the life cycle. It can be used to discuss migration among different animals and how they compare and contrast to each other.