North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration

by Nick Dowson, Patrick Benson (Illustrator)

A passionate nature lover and a renowned artist trace the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic--the greatest journey on Earth.

At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic.

In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it brings with it animals from every corner of the earth. Gray whales, white cranes, wolves, and caribou begin their migrations as the snow melts, gradually making the long journey north. Once they reach their destination, they will raise their young, feast on the lush Arctic tundra, and bask in the sunlight that lasts all summer. Still, this season too must pass, and by the time winter grips the Arctic once again, the visitors have gone--only to return the following year. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the cyclical nature of the seasons, showcasing the barren and beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Nature, Childrens, Poetry

56 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Nick Dowson is the author of TRACKS OF A PANDA and TIGRESS. A teacher and naturalist, he lives in Suffolk, England.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, if I were to only consider the combination of author Nick Dowson's presented text and illustrator Patrick Benson's accompanying artwork (which is indeed aesthetically spectacular, colourful, luminous, with realistic illustrations that are also imbued with just the right amount of imagination), their 2011 picture book North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration would most definitely be a solid four stars for me (not yet quite five stars, as I do in fact think that sometimes Dowson makes his words a bit too anthropomorphic and unscientific for my personal reading tastes, but that is indeed only a very minor and actually even unimportant bone of contention).

And Nick Dowson certainly has textually done a wonderful job demonstrating and describing the cycle of animal life in the Arctic and how from early spring to the end of summer many thousands of animal species (and in fact millions of individuals) migrate north to the Arctic region to feed, to breed, to raise their offspring (and with some birds actually flying thousands of miles, from Antarctica to the Arctic) and then moving southwards again once the brief Arctic summer is over, and yes, I sure do appreciate that in North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration Nick Dowson shows animal journeying by air, by sea and by land (from birds to fish), and also that while the threat of migrating animals experiencing predation is most definitely being alluded to, both verbally and visually, North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration fortunately does not describe and depict examples of this (which in my opinion makes North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration also suitable and appropriate for younger and/or more sensitive children).

However, that in North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration Nick Dowson does not include any book titles for further study and reading (in a bibliography) and that the two websites he does suggest are listed in such a way that it is really totally easy to completely miss these, well, I certainly do find this both a bit user unfriendly and also rather academically frustrating (and especially so if a child reader or his/her parents might want to find out more information and details regarding the Arctic and Arctic migration patterns), not enough for me to not recommend North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration (as it is truly a visual and textual delight) but definitely enough of an intellectual frustration to lower my own personal rating from four to three stars.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated! It felt so immersive. I appreciated the variety of different animals presented, and was especially fascinated by how those traveling by air or sea migrate from such diverse parts of the world to congregate in the Arctic for the summer. It's quite accessible for young children as a read-aloud, yet never feels "kiddie" -- the illustrations, especially, elevate this to an almost coffee-table type book that any animal lover could appreciate. It doesn't contain a lot of back matter to deepen knowledge about each creature presented, and the lack of bibliography is problematic... but I still heartily recommend it as a nice component for a study of animal migration and/or the Arctic.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations of this book are my favorite part. Very pretty with lots to look at. Information that I did not know before and liked learning. But the text sometimes didn't work for me. And while it was nice that the book was not overwhelming with information, I came away from the book feeling like I got barely a glimpse. That we started out with journeys of some animals but didn't continue. I felt unsatisfied, but I suppose that is to get my curiosity up and have me researching more about this area that I knew nothing of.

P.S. Now I know why one can see whales all along the California, Canada, and Alaskan coasts!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was geared towards children, even adult readers such as myself can find value in the interesting text and beautiful illustrations. I find that I know far more about the Antarctic regions of Earth than the Arctic, which is a shame because I am Canadian, and the Arctic is very much a part of our nation.
I enjoyed the simple way this book presented the journey of the myriad animals and birds that migrate to the Arctic every spring to over-summer there. The text and illustrations combined made this book a delight to enjoy!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children and I loved this peek into the unique habitat in the arctic and particularly reading about the numerous animals that migrate there. We especially loved reading about the whales, but the caribou were quite interesting. Beautiful illustrations. Short enough to read in one sitting. I will look for other titles by this author.

[Christine Turner]

Summary
A passionate nature lover and a renowned artist trace the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures of the Artic.

At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it brings with it animals from every corner of the earth. Gray whales, white cranes, wolves, and caribou begin their migrations as the snow melts, gradually making the long journey north. Once they reach their destination, they will raise their young, feast on the lush Arctic tundra, and bask in the sunlight that lasts all summer. Still, this season too must pass, and by the time winter grips the Arctic once again, the visitors have gone--only to return the following year.

This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the cyclical nature of the seasons, showcasing the barren and beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I always think of animal migrations as heading south," my daughter wondered as we read this beautiful book together by the fire this weekend. And that, I think, is part of what makes NORTH: THE AMAZING STORY OF ARCTIC MIGRATION such a special book - all these animals, from the soaring snow geese to the regal caribou to the pointy-tusked, alien-looking narwhals, heading north, to a part of the world we so often think of as inhospitable. But in the summer sun, the Arctic is full of life and light - food and space to breed and raise young. This book tells the story of that migration, of the animals that swim, walk, and fly north when the days grow longer. Beautiful art work in soft blues and yellows captures that warmth and light, and some gorgeous, wordless spreads tell stories of their own. A lovely, lovely book - and one that would be great to pair with OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW for winter studies in the classroom.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grades 2-5

Spare, almost poetic, language combines with beautiful illustrations to create a book that will be a pleasure to read aloud and to pore over individually. Opening with a scene of a lone polar bear and arctic fox, Dowson explains that there are very few animals that can survive year-round in the Arctic, but as the seasons change and the weather slowly warms, animals from all over the globe start making their way north. Illustrator Benson's muted watercolors complement Dowson's text nicely, and the result is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book. An author's note about the Arctic region, along with a glossary, index, and map, round out the offering. While there's not enough detail on specific animals to be helpful with reports, students will come away with an appreciation of that region as a whole.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetic look at the amazing Arctic starts with the deep winter and the few animals who survive there year round. Then spring comes to the Arctic and the sun comes back along with some warmth. Plants start to appear from under the snow. Soon more animals will arrive. The first to head out on their journey are the gray whales, that swim from Mexico to the Arctic Circle. Birds head north too in flocks. Herds of pregnant caribou journey north, followed closely by the gray wolves looking for weakness. Walrus, narwhal, schools of fish, all of this life crowds the Arctic summer until the weather turns cold and brutal again, and once more they head back around the world.

Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you think of migration you think of birds flying south for the winter. I never really thought about the northern migrations for the summer months until I read this book. This is a beautifully illustrated sparse look at migration to and from the Arctic. It starts with those animals like polar bears who spend all year long in the Arctic. They travel over the frozen tundra during the winter months. But once spring begins and plants start to break through the ice they are joined by more and more animals from birds to whales to caribou to wolves. In all 180 species migrate to the Arctic each year. There isn't a whole lot of text on these beautiful pages, but there is enough to tell the story. I really appreciated the end matter at the back that gives a little more information on the animals and northern migration.

[Rachel Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, what a stunning book! The illustrations are so gorgeous! I especially like the way they are laid out - some split the page, some are in panels, and some take up two whole pages with no words at all. The book is about the migration that various animals make in the winter, from walrus' to polar bears to all kinds of birds. The images actually made me feel the cold, arctic conditions! I really love the creativity of the author and illustrator. They truly took time to think about taking the reader on a visual journey, provoking the senses and inspiring the mind. I think this book is a great model of nonfiction writing, but also a good resource for students if they were learning about migration. The language is accessible and easy to read on the page. It is too poetic, but really tells the story in a straight forward way.

[Michael Lausche · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well illustrated picture book, about the migration of animals towards the north is packed full of detailed descriptions and pictures of what these animals look like. The text that the author provides the reader with, explains very smoothly on how certain animals migrate. The variety of animals that are given range from whales, to bears, to birds. I must say that the "exclamation point" on the book is the illustrations. Patrick Benson does a great job with creating these silky pictures of bird migration, whales traveling from coast to coast, and landscape that is breathtaking. I really enjoyed learning about how these animals migrate, and the survival techniques they use. I would recommend this book for children ages kindergarten-1st grade.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated nonfiction text clearly describes the many animals that live and migrate to the Arctic circle. Some of the animals are familiar to us -- polar bears and whales -- but many are animals that we don't think of as migrating to the top of the world. Fish migrate from streams, birds fly thousands of miles, a walruses swim up the Pacific coast.

This book is perfect for students in grades 2 - 4 learning about animal adaptations and migrations. Though the book is quite thick and looks a bit intimidating, it's really perfect for elementary school students. Highly recommended.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best literary non-fiction books I have read in awhile. The beginning really pulls the reader in, and then the story of the arctic migration unfolds slowly, with each page adding a new animal to the great journey. A wonderful combination of story and facts. The author's love of nature comes through. The story is amazing and beautiful!

[John Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration, Nick
Dowson
Grade Level: 2-5
Topic: Migration
Description: This poetically written and beautifully illustrated book gives students a unique look at the challenges animals who migrate in the arctic go through on their journey. Filled with great facts throughout.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so beautifully done and such a wonderful book about the yearly migration of animals. It's non-fiction, which is good for this theme, but it's not preachy or lecturing in its language. It's a little long for a storytime, but I SO wanted to share this with the kids at my library that I had it out on display every chance I could get in the Fall.

[Zayneea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only picked this book by chance when I was doing some tidying of the childrens area in the library - it was in the Picture Books area when it should be in the non-fiction. The book is absolutely stunning, all the images are so so beautiful and the information is wonderful too. Really recommend to children and adults of all ages.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Ever so pretty. Will be a great addition to the school collection and discussions of arctic animals, conservation, and migration.

Feel like that is not enough to describe this one but hey. It's in the South and it's hot. Just know you can look at this one and cool off a bit as you learn. ;]

[Tisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful story about the life cycle of the frozen north! The illustrations and simple story paint a wonderful picture of the animals that live in and come to the Arctic, and of the inhospitable nature of that part of the earth. This would be a great family read-aloud.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a non-fiction PB should be- lyrical informative text paired perfectly with appealing and compelling illustrations that expand and clarify understanding of complex subjects.
This book makes the Arctic feel like home.

[Zara Younus]

Grade 4. Migration of animals for survival.

This book contains a variety of animals and poetically express the migration of the animals in the Arctic. Students can match the animal to the migration process.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated picture book introduction to the amazing migration of so many different types of animals to the Arctic. I loved the text, loved the illustrations, and found the subject matter truly engaging and intriguing!

[Wenyun (Ivy) Dong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vivid picture book about how animals migrate to Arctic region during spring and travel back to south before winter. Children can learn animal's name, its travel path and current Arctic situation caused by global warming.

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful non-fiction book about the Arctic region and how it changes with the seasons. I worried initially that it might be too dense with text, but the text is both minimal and essential. The illustrations really bring the lives of each animals close to the reader.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning, the text and illustrations match perfectly and it is poetic and informative at the same time.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning nature book!

[reading is my hustle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful colors, language, and illustrations describe the migratory instinct.
OUTSTANDING.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, nice prose. Nice facts in the back.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations!

[Hapzydeco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This account of arctic migration presents the reader with an outsize sense of wonder.