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Border Crossings
Follow two endangered ocelots as they attempt to cross the border in this powerful picture book about the environmental impact of the Wall.
Explore the beauty and biodiversity of our spectacular border area and see how the Wall impacts plants and animals. As two endangered ocelots attempt to cross the border, they face obstacles that drive home the catastrophic effects of the Wall--and the many benefits of keeping the border barrier-free. Powerful storytelling introduces young readers to the wildlife that thrives along the border and urges budding nature buffs to value and protect our environment.
2024 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award® for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Explore the beauty and biodiversity of our spectacular border area and see how the Wall impacts plants and animals. As two endangered ocelots attempt to cross the border, they face obstacles that drive home the catastrophic effects of the Wall--and the many benefits of keeping the border barrier-free. Powerful storytelling introduces young readers to the wildlife that thrives along the border and urges budding nature buffs to value and protect our environment.
2024 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award® for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
35 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2023
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 22, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge for accepting my request to read and review Border Crossings.
Author: Sneed B. Collard III
Published: 0I/24/23
Genre: Children's Nonfiction | Outdoors & Nature
A nice introduction to the border between the United States and Mexico, and the loss of effectiveness in migrating and mating of animals. The illustrations are simple but effective. The power is in the storytelling which is not graphic.
This is more a parental read with than a babysitter read. There are a lot of questions that could arise.
I thought this was well done.
Author: Sneed B. Collard III
Published: 0I/24/23
Genre: Children's Nonfiction | Outdoors & Nature
A nice introduction to the border between the United States and Mexico, and the loss of effectiveness in migrating and mating of animals. The illustrations are simple but effective. The power is in the storytelling which is not graphic.
This is more a parental read with than a babysitter read. There are a lot of questions that could arise.
I thought this was well done.
August 21, 2022
This book tells an important story of animals who live near the US-Mexico border and who are not able to migrate, mate or find resources because of the wall. The story discusses what happened when people came and created this made-up line without consideration for animals like ocelots, pronghorns and warblers who needs to be able to roam this area and have no idea why a wall now exists where their species has lived and survived for centuries. While it is written like a picture book and narrative it also teaches important lessons. The book ends with a page discussing the problems with the border wall and how it has affected the animals, giving an opportunity or invitation for further learning. The text is generally white or black on dark or light coloured background, making it fairly easy to read. The illustrations surround the text and a very beautiful and intriguing. I think this is a really great book and can see many opportunities to use it in science or social studies classrooms. As a grade 3 teacher, I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the 6-12 age range. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
January 6, 2024
Eye opening and a new perspective for me
October 23, 2022
There have been several books lately about the border and the impact of government policies on people living on both sides. Sneed Collard's new book points out how the manmade barriers going up along that line on a map are affecting the wildlife that calls the border home. He describes the journeys of ocelots and other animals seeking mates and new territory, the way that the fences and walls block access to "food or water they need" or to "spring and summer breeding grounds." Even winged animals that fly low to the ground can be turned back from where their instincts take them.
Illustrations capture the elaborate markings of the ocelot's pelt, the various habitats such as chaparral, desert, mountains, or canyons. A black gouge across some scenes makes the break in the ecosystems obvious. A particularly poignant image shows the bars of the metal barrier in red and the top rail in blue with stars on it, an American flag draped across the landscape. Javelinas, pronghorns, owls, and cactus fill the pages with vibrant life.
The author's note goes into more detail about the over seven hundred species that live in the border area and the negative impact of human activity on their survival. Information about groups working to protect the ecosystem in those areas such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife is provided. There is also a glossary and a list for further reading.
This would be a good book to pair with Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood's Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife to support classroom discussion about human impact on the environment and its effects on survival of animals in various areas.
I read an advance copy provided for review purposes through NetGalley. Publication date is set for January 24, 2023.
Illustrations capture the elaborate markings of the ocelot's pelt, the various habitats such as chaparral, desert, mountains, or canyons. A black gouge across some scenes makes the break in the ecosystems obvious. A particularly poignant image shows the bars of the metal barrier in red and the top rail in blue with stars on it, an American flag draped across the landscape. Javelinas, pronghorns, owls, and cactus fill the pages with vibrant life.
The author's note goes into more detail about the over seven hundred species that live in the border area and the negative impact of human activity on their survival. Information about groups working to protect the ecosystem in those areas such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife is provided. There is also a glossary and a list for further reading.
This would be a good book to pair with Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood's Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife to support classroom discussion about human impact on the environment and its effects on survival of animals in various areas.
I read an advance copy provided for review purposes through NetGalley. Publication date is set for January 24, 2023.
October 20, 2022
This is an excellent book to introduce young readers to the concepts of ecology and wildlife biology. Animals need to be able to freely travel in their home ranges, and walls prevent that from happening. For wide-ranging species, this can be devastating to their ability to find mates and perpetuate their species. The book follows several animals, Some are blocked by the wall. Others find a way around it. All are affected negatively by it.
The illustrations show the animals in their natural habitat. The ocelot is my favorite. Very few ocelots make it into the US anymore. Habitat loss is one reason, and the wall doesn't help with that either. Then, there are the smaller animals who can't cross the barren ground surrounding the wall on both sides. The book's illustrations show this so that the reader can understand the obstacles these animals face.
I think it's important to teach children ecological concepts at any age. They are able to understand, especially when those concepts are explained as well as they are in this book. The last chapter provides a more in-depth look at the issue, for adults to help their kids understand, or for kids old enough to read it themselves.
The text is easy to read and the story is short enough to keep the attention of very young readers. Attractive illustrations make it a nice book to hold in the hand (or on a tablet for digital versions).
The illustrations show the animals in their natural habitat. The ocelot is my favorite. Very few ocelots make it into the US anymore. Habitat loss is one reason, and the wall doesn't help with that either. Then, there are the smaller animals who can't cross the barren ground surrounding the wall on both sides. The book's illustrations show this so that the reader can understand the obstacles these animals face.
I think it's important to teach children ecological concepts at any age. They are able to understand, especially when those concepts are explained as well as they are in this book. The last chapter provides a more in-depth look at the issue, for adults to help their kids understand, or for kids old enough to read it themselves.
The text is easy to read and the story is short enough to keep the attention of very young readers. Attractive illustrations make it a nice book to hold in the hand (or on a tablet for digital versions).
April 12, 2023
A young male ocelot is deprived of the chance to find a new territory and a mate by a wall built along a human created border. Whatever one's politics or beliefs about such walls, the impact goes far beyond the people it's intended to stop. In this picture book, Collard and Gray highlight the ecosystems that cross the border and some of the animals that live in the area. Some parts of the border aren't shut off yet and the story follows a young female ocelot who does manage to cross the border to find a new territory and mate. The effects of the wall on the environment are highlighted but the focus is on the remarkable animals and ecosystems that existed long before any border. Back matter includes an author's note with more information about the environments and animals of the U.S./Mexican border region. There is also a glossary along with some suggested reading. Gray's illustrations are beautiful and wonderfully show the remarkable nature of the environment and how the wall interferes with the natural world in the area. The young male ocelot getting scared away by construction equipment emphasizes the point the author makes in the text. A fascinating and thoughtful reminder that actions have consequences, sometimes unintended ones.
February 2, 2023
A child's look at the impact artificial barriers have on native wildlife, and, in particular, how it breaks up population pockets and further harms endangered species. Our focus for most of the book is a young make ocelot, who is unable to cross out of it's childhood territory to find a mate. It's a pretty heartbreaking scene, but there is some resolution as the story ends. In the meantime, we see other animals across the border fence, and how they either circumvent the barrier or find themselves stuck on one side or another.
The artist puts a lot of detail into the animals and scenery, making it all feel healthy and full of life, even in the Sonoran desert. This is in contrast to the border fence, which is a solid block of texture, with unnaturally straight lines, cutting the view into tiny slivers.
The book ends on a happy note, which strikes a middle ground by highlighting the need for gaps in the border, to allow animals some ability to cross. Further notes in the book list groups which are finding solutions to minimize wildlife impact, as well as suggesting that readers contact the Congress, Senate, and President, to speak out for animals.
The artist puts a lot of detail into the animals and scenery, making it all feel healthy and full of life, even in the Sonoran desert. This is in contrast to the border fence, which is a solid block of texture, with unnaturally straight lines, cutting the view into tiny slivers.
The book ends on a happy note, which strikes a middle ground by highlighting the need for gaps in the border, to allow animals some ability to cross. Further notes in the book list groups which are finding solutions to minimize wildlife impact, as well as suggesting that readers contact the Congress, Senate, and President, to speak out for animals.
November 4, 2022
Gorgeously illustrated with heartbreaking truths, Border Crossings demonstrates how the man-made wall bordering the US and Mexico drastically hinders the livelihood of the wildlife and habitat. In nature, there are no such thing as borders-- the colonial concept of borders brought to life in the form of fences and walls disrupts families-- both humans and animals-- and their quality of life. Border Crossings focuses on two ocelots on opposite sides of the wall as they look for home and partnership, likely never to meet because of this. Many adults could benefit from reading this beautiful book.
November 2, 2022
Engaging. Informative. Important. My students came to care deeply about ocelots and all animals affected by human decisions such as building a wall to block off two countries. The illustrations are thoughtful and beautiful. The writing is equally compelling, despite the author being a scientist first. This is one of those sliding door, must read books that will have readers wanting to take action. My students also appreciated the glossary at the back for some of the bigger words in the text. Accessible as a read aloud to younger readers, but engaging and geared for a middle grade audience.
May 14, 2023
Thought this was going to be like the books that show how people help animals cross roads safely. Here there is another man made barrier, this time the barrier is to keep people from crossing, inhibiting most animals also from crossing to find food, water, or mates. Wonder if the officials considered the environmental side of the border crisis. Great author note, resources for how immigration effects kids, resources for the animals/habitat, lovely, albeit dark colored illustrations.
January 18, 2023
We all know border walls impact people, but what about wildlife? This moving book explores the impact of the US-Mexico border wall on vulnerable species while following the journey of two ocelots in search of a mate. The story is powerfully written and serves as a call to action. This is a perfect book for teaching about human impacts on environments, fragile ecosystems, and animal migration.
August 17, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge Publishing for allowing me to review this e-arc.
I enjoyed this book. It is informative and easy for kids to understand. The glossary in the back is thorough, the story feels complete, and the illustrations are beautiful. I will definitely buy for my library.
I enjoyed this book. It is informative and easy for kids to understand. The glossary in the back is thorough, the story feels complete, and the illustrations are beautiful. I will definitely buy for my library.
August 23, 2022
A perspective of the wall I never thought of. It is disgusting enough it's been built, but the fact that it's stopping nature from doing what it's been doing before us is deplorable.
Wonderful book that explains why we need to leave nature alone.
Wonderful book that explains why we need to leave nature alone.
December 31, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Charlesbridge for the ARC of this!
Lovely and emotional this helped explain to my kid why border walls prevent animals from finding their way to food, mates, or home. We really liked the illustrations, there wasn’t too much text, and it was easy to understand.
Lovely and emotional this helped explain to my kid why border walls prevent animals from finding their way to food, mates, or home. We really liked the illustrations, there wasn’t too much text, and it was easy to understand.
September 8, 2023
Excellent book. Bought for a 4yo and 7yo and they really enjoyed it and had tons of questions. As an adult, the plants and animals affected by the border wall had never occurred to me, so I found the book fascinating as well. Really well done.
July 12, 2023
The border wall wreaks havoc on animal species and ecosystems. Great book with unknown facts about the environment by the border.
March 2, 2023
After looking at the title of this book I was almost dreading reading this book given the fact that the title just screamed at me that it would be a book of politics. And in a sense it was since it challenged the building of the wall between the United States and Mexico instead of focusing on countries where more virulent deterrents like landmines may edge their borders.
But overlooking this whole wider subject and the reasoning behind the wall the book was made in a rather pleasing fashion that was straightforward, easy-to-understand and helped to provide insight to a facet of a tricky issue. And then additional information was also provided in the back with some more information on a bunch more different fronts although it did seem that the wall being built was pushed more towards keeping apart all humans and animals involved that have been able to mingle for the longest time while not actually confronting the whole issue of illegal immigration and its ramifications, which is rather a weighty issue to put forward to children anyway. But at this point the issue will have to be approached cautiously anyway if you are going to explain the reasoning behind the wall being built in the first place.
What really makes this book to standout though are the illustrations as they are beautifully done, full page and brightly colored even in the night shots. As such this book most definitely hit a high point in its way to focus and present the beauty of this land.
All in all I would definitely recommend it for most personal and scientific libraries even if it is a complicated issue politically since it does help to bring awareness to the front that sometimes simple solutions may still have adverse consequences whether in the present time or in the long run.
But overlooking this whole wider subject and the reasoning behind the wall the book was made in a rather pleasing fashion that was straightforward, easy-to-understand and helped to provide insight to a facet of a tricky issue. And then additional information was also provided in the back with some more information on a bunch more different fronts although it did seem that the wall being built was pushed more towards keeping apart all humans and animals involved that have been able to mingle for the longest time while not actually confronting the whole issue of illegal immigration and its ramifications, which is rather a weighty issue to put forward to children anyway. But at this point the issue will have to be approached cautiously anyway if you are going to explain the reasoning behind the wall being built in the first place.
What really makes this book to standout though are the illustrations as they are beautifully done, full page and brightly colored even in the night shots. As such this book most definitely hit a high point in its way to focus and present the beauty of this land.
All in all I would definitely recommend it for most personal and scientific libraries even if it is a complicated issue politically since it does help to bring awareness to the front that sometimes simple solutions may still have adverse consequences whether in the present time or in the long run.
January 6, 2024
The ocelot's movements are cloaked by thick brush and
the cover of darkness. But suddenly he encounters
something unexpected. Something frightening.
Where protective plants once stood, an ugly scar
now stretches.
Running in both directions, as far as the ocelot can see,
looms a wall. p. 3-5
Winner of the 2024 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Nonfiction - totally worthy of it!!!
Collard's beautiful language and Gray's magnificent illustrations take readers into the borderlands, rich in a variety of ecosystems with an abundance of animals that depend on being able to cross the "border" in order to thrive. In the case of this excerpt, a male ocelot is headed on his annual trek from Texas to Mexico to find a mate.
DON'T SKIP the BACK MATTER. Sneed explains in more detail the current state of the borderlands for animals and lists groups "who are working to protect the fragile border ecosystems."
Highly recommend as a READ ALOUD (including the back matter) to students in the upper grades OR for LIT CIRCLE discussions.
Would PARTNER well with another favorite book of mine - Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Duffield & Orodán
the cover of darkness. But suddenly he encounters
something unexpected. Something frightening.
Where protective plants once stood, an ugly scar
now stretches.
Running in both directions, as far as the ocelot can see,
looms a wall. p. 3-5
Winner of the 2024 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Nonfiction - totally worthy of it!!!
Collard's beautiful language and Gray's magnificent illustrations take readers into the borderlands, rich in a variety of ecosystems with an abundance of animals that depend on being able to cross the "border" in order to thrive. In the case of this excerpt, a male ocelot is headed on his annual trek from Texas to Mexico to find a mate.
DON'T SKIP the BACK MATTER. Sneed explains in more detail the current state of the borderlands for animals and lists groups "who are working to protect the fragile border ecosystems."
Highly recommend as a READ ALOUD (including the back matter) to students in the upper grades OR for LIT CIRCLE discussions.
Would PARTNER well with another favorite book of mine - Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Duffield & Orodán
December 4, 2022
Copy provided by the publisher
Two endangered, rare ocelots set off to find mates. One travels from the US and tries to get into Mexico, but is stopped by a manmade wall. Another, traveling towards the US through the Sonoran desert, manages to get across an area where there is no fence. Using the experiences of these animals, the area around the US Mexico border is beautifully described and pictured, and the flora and fauna are listed. The problems that the border causes for animals and for native plants is discussed in the book, and further information about the environmental impact is given in an end note. I was unaware of the plight of the ocelots, and was unfamiliar with this region of the world. While I knew that the border wall was problematic, and that immigration in this area was problematic, I hadn't thought about the environmental impact. This book certainly provides a lot of food for thought, and Collard always does a great job in bringing a solid science back ground to his topics.
This is more like Collard's picture books Beaver and Otter Get Along... Sort Of or Waiting for a Warbler than his slightly longer and more informative Woodpeckers: Drilling Holes and Bagging Bugs or my favorite, Hopping Ahead of Climate Change. It was be a great book to use in classes during the study of biomes, and would be a great read alound for older students studying immigration through the lens of current events.
Two endangered, rare ocelots set off to find mates. One travels from the US and tries to get into Mexico, but is stopped by a manmade wall. Another, traveling towards the US through the Sonoran desert, manages to get across an area where there is no fence. Using the experiences of these animals, the area around the US Mexico border is beautifully described and pictured, and the flora and fauna are listed. The problems that the border causes for animals and for native plants is discussed in the book, and further information about the environmental impact is given in an end note. I was unaware of the plight of the ocelots, and was unfamiliar with this region of the world. While I knew that the border wall was problematic, and that immigration in this area was problematic, I hadn't thought about the environmental impact. This book certainly provides a lot of food for thought, and Collard always does a great job in bringing a solid science back ground to his topics.
This is more like Collard's picture books Beaver and Otter Get Along... Sort Of or Waiting for a Warbler than his slightly longer and more informative Woodpeckers: Drilling Holes and Bagging Bugs or my favorite, Hopping Ahead of Climate Change. It was be a great book to use in classes during the study of biomes, and would be a great read alound for older students studying immigration through the lens of current events.
May 2, 2024
In search of a new non-fiction book for your students? Border Crossings by Sneed B. Collard III is the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner and is the perfect addition to your classroom library. This non-fiction picture book tells the reality of an ocelot and other animals who have been closed off from what once was land they inhabited by the border of Mexico and the United States. The most touching spread in this book describes the challenges faced and how the animals lived before the borders were put in place, adapting to climates, and moving freely across the land before humans took over. The illustrations on the spread with the quote “For them the border is not something that separates. It is something that connects” is breath-taking and brings great awareness to the effects the border has on animals and endangered species. This is not your traditional non-fiction book, yet it is one you will want to purchase for your own library!
November 9, 2025
Publication Date: 2023
Award: Orbis Picture Award
Genre: Non-Fiction
Border Crossings shows how the border wall also affects animals and the environment, following two ocelots as they struggle to cross the U.S. Mexico border. This book could be used in the classroom to teach about ecosystems, conservation, and how human actions impact nature. I really liked how it shared an important message in a simple and powerful way.
Award: Orbis Picture Award
Genre: Non-Fiction
Border Crossings shows how the border wall also affects animals and the environment, following two ocelots as they struggle to cross the U.S. Mexico border. This book could be used in the classroom to teach about ecosystems, conservation, and how human actions impact nature. I really liked how it shared an important message in a simple and powerful way.
December 31, 2023
This book deals with the US-Mexico border wall as it applies to wildlife on each side of the border. As the book points out, for the animals, the border connects rather than separates. It allows animals to mate, find food and shelter. Now, with these connections unavailable, animals are suffering the unintended consequences. Heartbreaking. The book is beautifully illustrated.
January 17, 2024
An extraordinarily beautifully illustrated book that brings meaning and understanding to the impact of unnatural barriers on living beings in the natural world. This is a thoughtful way to educate young children on the importance of supporting living things in their quest to simply ... keep on living.
April 27, 2024
Bordering Crossings is as an absolute blast of a story to read! It is about two ocelots that attempt to cross the border and have many challenges. The story highlights the challenges that the ecosystem faces with the wall at the southern border. This story is just an example of how the ecosystem has to adapt to harsh challenges caused by the wall.
April 29, 2024
This is a very powerful book for young children as it focuses on the impacts of man-made structures on ecosystems and the animals of the environment. It portrays this message using a story about two ocelots that is more engaging for young children, but also is teaching them important lessons simultaneously.
July 7, 2024
7/7/2024 ~ Read this book to spark a conversation about the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico - humans create borders, and animals pay the price. The book starts with a tight focus on one ocelot, and then moves to the other end of the border with a broader focus on a different ocelot and other animals and plants that live in the border region.
December 5, 2024
I LOVE this. So many topics of conversation here could be introduced, from the human impact of immigration to the ecological impact on ecosystems that humans make. Definitely curricular connections here but more than that, life connections. What a great story! I love this book and would LOVE to teach this as a read aloud.
November 6, 2025
Date: 2023
Award: Orbis Picture Award
Genre: Non-Fiction
This book discusses borders as a man-made concept that doesn't exist in nature. I liked this book because it outlines how immigration enforcement negatively impacts not only humans but also the ecosystem. I'm adding this to my text set because it's an immigration story narrated differently.
Award: Orbis Picture Award
Genre: Non-Fiction
This book discusses borders as a man-made concept that doesn't exist in nature. I liked this book because it outlines how immigration enforcement negatively impacts not only humans but also the ecosystem. I'm adding this to my text set because it's an immigration story narrated differently.
February 21, 2023
This nonfiction picture book has stunning illustrations and explores the consequences of the US/Mexico border wall on animal migration. The author does a commendable job of addressing this in a matter-of-fact way, without the condescending, virtue signaling slant I expected.
October 1, 2024
This is another good book by the author. The life that inhabits the Mexican-United States border is unique and fascinating. It is heartbreaking that building a wall will be lethal to many of the denizens.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews