Follow the Flyway, The Marvel of Bird Migration
Follow the Flyway
The Marvel of Bird Migration
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781646866335
Product Dimensions: 8.50 x 10.75 inches
Page Count: 32 pages
Age Range: 3 to 8 Years
Written by Sarah Nelson
Illustrated by Maya Hanisch
In this lyrical STEM gem, nests full of baby birds hatch, grow feathers, learn to fly, and then finally follow the autumn winds south along the majestic flyway for their first big migration. Rhyming, poetic text and detailed, nostalgic illustrations make for an enthralling read-aloud, carrying readers along on the birds’ sensory journey of sights and sounds. Illustrated endnotes provide factual information about bird migration, the four flyways of North America, the species of birds found in the book and sources for further reading.
Key Points:
BIRDS, AN ON-TREND TOPIC: Bird-watching continues to be popular as a family and group activity following an increased interest during the pandemic. This book has high appeal for classrooms and families of birders.
WIDE AGE RANGE: The poetic text and illustrations engage younger readers, while more detail in the end notes continues the interest for older children.
STEM: Introduces information about bird migration and a variety of bird species.
POETIC TEXT: Lyrical, rhyming text is finely crafted by poet and author Sarah Nelson (I Like the Weather series).
ILLUSTRATIONS: Chic, nostalgic illustrations provide details for readers to pore over.
ENDNOTES: Illustrated endnotes provide factual information about bird migration, the four North American flyways, the species of birds found in the book and sources for further reading.
Awards & Accolades
Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College, 2024
“A charming beginning look at North American migration flyways” – Kirkus Reviews
★ “An impressive use of rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia, and word imagery endows this science-based book with a strong literary component . . . Recommended as a lyrical read-aloud and an informational text” – School Library Journal, starred review
“This beautifully illustrated book, with poetic text by a St. Paul author, follows ducks, geese, herons, giant-winged pelicans, egrets, sandpipers, swans, loons and snipes as their babies begin their first migration down the majestic flyway” – St. Paul Pioneer Press
“In this blow-by-blow accounting of seasonal migration, uplifting lines track a dozen avian species along a ‘blue and ancient flyway’” – Publishers Weekly
About the Contributors
Written by - Sarah Nelson
Sarah Nelson loves summer nights and firefly light. Her lyrical picture books are often inspired by nature and wonder. Sarah’s titles include Follow the Flyway: The Marvel of Bird Migration and the I Like the Weather series, both published by Barefoot Books. She lives with her husband in Minnesota, USA where she teaches English and writing to adult immigrants.
Illustrated by - Maya Hanisch
Maya Hanisch paints with vibrant details that charm and enchant. Her deep love for nature is reflected in all her work, which focuses on plants and animals. Maya studied graphic design at Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile, and painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA. She is based in Santiago, Chile.
