Tiny Tern Takes Flight

by Donna B. McKinney, Fiona Osbaldstone (illustrator)

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Birds, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2024

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tiny Tern Takes Flight,” by Donna B. McKinney is a remarkable tale about the migration of the Arctic Tern.

Tiny Tern is about to embark on its first migration from the Arctic to the Antarctic – and back again. Tiny Tern faces challenges along the way like predators and storms, and miles and miles of ocean. The journey is arduous, filled with moments of tension and resilience, but it’s also a story of triumph—showing the power of perseverance and the incredible strength found in even the smallest creatures.

Wow! When I first saw the cover, I was expecting a charming story. I was not disappointed. It was a breathtaking adventure—and so much more. McKinney’s writing captures the enormity of Tiny Tern’s journey with exquisite detail and a sense of wonder that hooked me from the very first page. You can almost feel the wind under Tiny Tern’s wings and the determination pushing it forward. Playful words like “SWOOSH!” and “KREE-ERRR!” add fun and vitality, making every moment come alive.

The story strikes a perfect balance between thrilling adventure, heartwarming moments, and fascinating lessons about animals in the natural world. McKinney peppers in fascinating facts into the story. Did you know they can fly up to 50,000 miles a year? Or that they can sleep mid-flight? These nuggets of science are blended seamlessly into the story, offering a gentle introduction to STEM concepts like biology and migration. Educators can take it even further with an online teacher’s guide that extends the learning opportunities.

The illustrations by Fiona Osbaldstone are simply STUNNING. Each page contains vibrant depictions of Arctic and Antarctic landscapes, stormy skies, and shimmering oceans, transplanting you directly into this amazing world. I found myself lingering over the pages, soaking in every detail as they told a story all their own.

Tiny Tern’s incredible feat of endurance is inspiring, and highlights the resilience, determination and the beauty in our natural world. If you’re looking for a story that combines adventure, heart, and science, “Tiny Tern Takes Flight” is a must-read. I highly recommend this book for kids young and old, parents, educators, and anyone who loves a story that inspires and enlightens. It’s a priceless addition to children’s STEM literature and will make a great addition to my four-year-old granddaughter’s librarry!

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny Tern Takes Flight by Donna B. McKinney is a delightful introduction to the incredible journey of Arctic terns, who make the longest migration of any species. As someone who’s had the chance to observe these remarkable birds during nesting season, I was excited to read this book—and it didn’t disappoint. McKinney does a wonderful job following a young tern’s first migration, sharing the impressive resilience and bravery needed to complete such a journey.

The story takes readers through storms, predator threats, and the long trek from the Arctic to the Antarctic, capturing both the challenges and beauty of migration. I appreciated that the book introduces some of the real dangers Arctic terns face, while keeping the tone accessible and engaging for young readers. The illustrations complement the story well, adding a layer of visual wonder that makes Tiny Tern’s journey come alive.

With additional educational content at the end, this book is both a heartwarming story and a great resource for kids curious about Arctic terns or nature in general. It’s a lovely celebration of perseverance, making it a perfect read for young nature enthusiasts or anyone fascinated by these world-traveling birds.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated non-fiction picture book that is perfect for a wide range of ages. The free verse poetry is lyrical and full of all the figurative language emphasized in the fifth grade ELA classes I taught for so many years. The presence of simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and even 1 instance of hyperbole as well the use of so many vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives not only add to the clarity of author Donna McKinney’s subject but the book’s use as a mentor text. The main text is brief but instructive and while it may be more appropriate for younger elementary readers/listeners, the back matter included raises the target age to those in 4th and 5th grades. While there isn’t a glossary or index, McKinney includes more information about the tern’s life cycle, predators & prey and pictorial bar graphs about feather length and a map of migratory paths.

Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 1-5.

Thanks for the review copy, Science Naturally.

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Tern Takes Flight is a fascinating, educational, beautiful, and fantastic nonfiction book! This lovely story is full of resiliency, hope, and stunning landscapes. I had never heard of Terns before reading this book. I am amazed by all that I learned. Terns literally chase the sunlight traveling from northern Arctic to the southern Antarctic. These tiny birds are truly fierce.

This non-fiction story is told in captivating and engaging way. I love the voice and flow of this book. Plus the illustrations are absolutely stunning. You can't help but cheer on the terns as they face predators, dangerous weather, and rough terrain.
#gifted #ad A HUGE thank you to Science Naturally @scinaturally for our gifted copy!

[Charessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Science Naturally for the forecast copy!

Tiny Tern Takes Flight is simply an illustrated journey of terns living and migrating. It is meant to educate the reader and endear them to this bird species. Its use of onomatopoeia and simple but realistic illustrations makes it an excellent educational story time pick.

My only contrary thought about the book was whether there was a need for a focus on Tiny Tern, the titular bird. Most of the book doesn't even mention Tiny Tern and given the realism of the illustrations, this particular bird doesn't often stand out unless you pay attention to the difference in size and detail.

It'd make a great reference book for elementary school students, though, that's for sure!

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an educational and interesting forty-page picture book for children aged four to seven. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know a thing about Terns - and learned a lot! Told in a consolidated voice and driven by fabulous illustrations, it kept our attention throughout. We’re a little jealous - these birds live in summer year-round - but we’ll pass on their incredibly long flights twice a year. Learn the parts of the tern, complete with feather sizes. A “learn more” section provides detailed information on these amazing birds. You can’t help but read more because we bet you’ll be as impressed as we were.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

With beautiful art and gorgeous prose, TINY TERN TAKES FLIGHT takes us along on tiny tern's great annual adventure -- migrating from the North Pole to the South Pole and back again! The wordplay and vivid imagery and the stunning art make this a perfect read-aloud. I also appreciated the fascinating back matter, where we learn, for instance, that some arctic terns fly 50,000 miles in one year and scientists believe "their trip from the high Arctic region to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica may be the longest migration of any animal." Highly recommended!

[Heather Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using vivid, lyrical language, McKinney takes you on a tern’s exciting (and dangerous) migration from its Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica and back again! Osbaldstone’s lovely, detailed illustrations are a perfect complement to McKinney’s action-packed text, making the book ideal for a read aloud. Engaging back matter features more information about the tern’s migration, anatomy and feather sizes, and feeding behaviors. An excellent choice for curious young readers and animal lovers of all ages.

[Katie Furze · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisitely written and illustrated account of the annual journey of terns from the Artic to the Antarctic (and back again). The lyrical narrative is full of alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia which makes it joy to read out loud. The illustrations are realistic yet imaginative. The back matter provides more detailed information about the biology of terns and their migration. Highly recommended for young readers.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated picture book takes readers soaring along with the life of terns as they nest, feed, raise their young, defend against predators, and then migrate from pole to pole over a period of months. Did you know terns sleep while in flight on their migration? I learned this and so many more facts from the text as well as the informative backmatter. Speaking of text, this book is written in a lyrical style that will make for excellent reading aloud material.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love filling those slower days post holidays with some lounging and reading! Winter break means learning about the extraordinary journey of the Arctic Tern.

Readers can follow along on this science backed story as an Arctic Tern starts off in the Northern Arctic and travels South. This journey is simply remarkable and this book captures their adventure so beautifully. With detailed illustrations and interesting facts, your child will love to learn about this mighty bird.

[Leslie Barnard Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was absolutely entranced by this lyrical picture book about Arctic terns and their migration from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to Antarctica. The art is precise and appealing, and the language sings, making for a compelling read aloud with connections to science curriculum about animals, migration, and habitats. Highly recommend for home, school, and library!

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about Arctic terns from this fascinating nonfiction book. With active, poetic language and lovely, realistic illustrations, the story invites readers to experience migration (the longest of any species!) from the terns' perspective. This will make an excellent addition to elementary classrooms and libraries.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in lyrical text with vivid imagery, Donna McKinney's Tiny Tern Takes Flight soars! Join one tiny tern on an adventurous journey as it migrates from the Artic to the Antarctic. Beautiful illustrations by Fiona Osbaldstone complement the text perfectly. Extensive backmatter provides additional information for the curious reader, science minded reader, and nature lover.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a print ARC of this book to review. I really liked this book. A child could easily use this for reports. It was clear and concise. It was interesting. It had many facts about terns, and I learned more about them. I think this would be a good addition to a youth collection.