Migration

K-Gr 3–Gibbons opens with a clear definition of migration and an enthusiastic invitation to readers. The subject of migration is easy to understand and will appeal to the demographic. Subtopics, such as migration routes and migration in the sky, on land, and in the water, are labeled in bold red letters and then explained. The text and the illustrations work beautifully together. Important vocabulary is introduced and then immediately used in the text. For example, after the word climate is defined, the text explains that animals often migrate to find climates that are more suitable for mating and raising their young. The text pulses with enthusiasm and also highlights the unknowns of science by referring to what scientists “believe” to be true. The illustrations, created with watercolors, black ink, and colored pencil, depict a variety of animals in migration. Maps show migration routes that include detailed captions. Gibbons’s encouragement to “get going” is hard to resist.