Numenia and the Hurricane

Gr 2-5–Migratory birds have one of the most challenging jobs on Earth: survive the elements in order to travel from their homes in the far North to those in the South and back again. Numenia is one of three bird sisters born by an arctic shore. They eat and grow until the arrival of autumn triggers their migratory instincts and they set off, under the guidance of wise old goose, for their winter home. However, Numenia is blown off course by a hurricane, and she must endure days of heavy flying with no food to attempt to reunite with her sisters. This book is stunning not only in its elegant language but also in its presentation. Rhyming, poetic text moves readers through the story with the use of specific targeted vocabulary that paints a vivid picture despite its brevity. The cadence is balanced in nearly every line, making this story ideally suited to being read aloud. Ornately detailed illustrations match the text perfectly; each moment of the book is well balanced and engages readers’ eyes as well as their ears. Every image is an invitation for readers to investigate the many subtleties found there. The final pages explain the author’s impetus for writing this book and include an important call to action for all.