On the Move: Mass Migrations

Imagine seeing hundreds of the same type of animal gathered at the same place and at the same time! Right here in North America many animals gather in huge numbers and can be seen at predictable times and locations. Not all migrations are tied to seasonal food changes—some are tied to life cycles and the need to gather in huge numbers. Certain birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, fish, and even insects migrate during spring, summer, fall, or winter. Travel along with them as you learn about what puts these animals On the Move. key phrases for educators: life cycles, migrations, seasons, geography

"Spread by spread, in short paragraphs of straightforward exposition set on illustrations showing the animals in their habitats, Cohn describes when, where and why a sampling of North American mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, amphibians and even invertebrates come together and move. Some migrations are familiar—monarch butterflies and sandhill cranes—and others may be surprising in this context, like the nightly movement of bats from a cave or the gathering of snakes in their winter dens. Species linked on the food chain may be described together: the horseshoe crabs and red knots who feed on their eggs; salmon and bald eagles. The author makes an effort to enliven these descriptions with interesting verbs. Salamanders “squiggle across fields.” Chimney swifts “chitter and chatter.”...(January 2013)
Kirkus Reviews

"This is a charming book from which young readers can get their first glimpse into the wonders of animal migration. The book does a wonderful job of answering the simple question that might be asked by a youngster in a K–3 classroom: Why do animals gather together each year?" (May 2013)
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Author/Illustrator Info:

Award-winning author Scotti Cohn has had a love for poetry and fiction writing since childhood. In addition to authoring On the Move, Big Cat, Little Kitty and One Wolf Howls for Sylvan Dell, Scotti has written eight nonfiction books as well as short stories and poems. Scotti’s two grown children have done their own moving on. She and her husband live in upstate South Carolina with five little kitties. Visit her website at www.scotticohn.com, or visit her School Visit Info and Facebook Page for more information.

Susan Detwiler is the illustrator of several books for children including On the Move, Big Cat, Little Kitty, and the award-winning titles Pandas’ Earthquake Escape and One Wolf Howls. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and her illustrations have appeared in the children’s magazines, Highlights for Children and Ladybug. Susan’s artwork has also been used for puzzles, games, and greeting cards. Books have always been a source of joy in her life, and as a child she particularly loved books with beautiful illustrations. Susan was educated at the Maryland Institute College of Art and lives with her artist husband and their two sons in Baltimore. Visit her website at www.susandetwiler.com.