REVIEWS

Great addition to any classroom library

Most youngsters are fascinated by animals of all kinds, and that fascination is fed by wonderful books as children become proficient readers at the third grade reading level. On the Move: Mass Migrations should become a staple for students’ reading lists, although it certainly can be a read aloud book for younger children as well.

On the Move: Mass Migrations has sections discussing the migrations of spotted salamanders, sandhill cranes, horseshoe crabs, caribou, chimney swifts, Brazilian free-tail bats, monarch butterflies, polar bears, snakes, elephant seals, salmon, and gray whales. These represent animals from a wide variety of places on the North American continent. Some move in order to find food, some to find mates, some need to go from a cold climate to a warmer one, some to find an appropriate or safe place to give birth or lay their eggs. Some sections discuss more than one season’s migrations for an animal. The section on horseshoe crabs even tells about red knot birds and common green darner dragonflies which both have a relationship to the crabs and the crabs’ habitat, but have their own migration patterns as well. Every section (or spread) has a lush, detailed illustration to give youngsters a true picture of the animals in their natural habitat. Everything in this beautiful book will delight youngsters and whet their curiosity and start their interest flowing. It will surely lead to further questioning and learning.

Four pages in the back of the book add some information and have some learning activities, but the real gift with this book is the 42-page teaching activity guide which can be downloaded at http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/documents/TeachingActivities/OnTheMove_TA.pdf contains everything from comprehension questions to writing prompts to a wide variety of activities such as word searches, a science journal, vocabulary activities, animal charts, and much more. This book will be a great addition to any classroom library.

Reviewer: Rosi Hollinbeck
_3rdgradereading_

"Great information, very colorful!"

Received this book free through Goodreads Firstreads. Read Mass Migrations to my 2-1/2 hear old granddaughter. She loved the pictures, and asked questions (as most 2-year-olds do). Great information, and very colorful. The information is for children a little bit older, but read in the right tone and a younger child will be fascinated! ~ Kim (posted on Goodreads)

"Excellent way to teach children about migration, climate, seasons and geography."

This is a great book. Excellent way to teach children about migration, climate, seasons and geography. Fantastic full page illustrations with large text and no dead space. The layout design was skillfully done. The writing by Cohn gave just enough insight to fully explain yet still open up to more questions and was fun and playful. The back of the book gave even more details for each set of animals and had a quiz along with a source for multimedia to learn even more. Must have animal book for young children. My rating: 5 of 5 stars. ~ The Snake Wrangler

"Captivating, easy-to-understand language"

Cohn uses captivating, easy-to-understand language to explore animal migration. Each entry introduces a different animal's habitat and eating, hibernating, and breeding behaviors. Children will enjoy the passages on well-known creatures, such as snakes and salamanders, in addition to those on the lesser-known chimney swifts. The section on salamanders is reminiscent of Sarah Marwil Lamstein's Big Night for Salamanders (Boyds Mills, 2010). Detwiler's vibrant, full-page illustrations bring Cohn's text to life, placing kids in the center of each environment. Anne Barreca, New York Public Library / School Library Journal Reviews 2013 August

"Fascinating and accessible: a mini science class"

Fascinating and accessible: a mini science class between these covers reveals a world of mass annual migrations among diverse species. Readers follow the routines of salmon, caribou, polar bears, monarch butterflies, bats, and salamanders, among other animals. Easy to understand discussions of finding a mate, hunting for food, and seeking more appropriate weather will all provoke lively discussions. Realistic artwork with a softened appeal. Ages four to eight. ForeWord Magazine Reviews 2013 - Summer Issue: June 1, 2013

"Overall, this is an informative and attractive look at migration."

When thinking about migration, birds might be the first animals that come to mind. However, this book features a wide spectrum of other animals that migrate as well. Each double-page spread features a different animal and details about when and why it migrates. The text is descriptive, yet also poetic. Beautiful, detailed illustrations highlight each group of migrating animals in their natural environment. In the back of the book, there is more in-depth information about when, where, and why animals migrate. This section also includes details about the time of year each animal featured in the book migrates and where readers can go to see huge amounts of these animals gathered together. Overall, this is an informative and attractive look at migration. Anne Bozievich, Library Media Specialist, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania / Library Media Connection Reviews 2013 October

"Whether kids read it at home or in school, it will encourage them to learn more about the habits of their favorite animals."

On the move: Mass Migrations is about different animals and how and why they move. This book was designed to teach kids about the many reasons for animal migration.
The author, Scotti Cohn, uses so many details and adjectives in her writing that you can almost hear the animals while you’re reading. Illustrator Susan Detwiler’s artwork is full of pretty, bright colors that really bring the animals to life.
If you want to learn more about one of the animals in this story, you will find more information in the back of the book. There is also a fun question and answer section. Whether kids read it at home or in school, it will encourage them to learn more about the habits of their favorite animals.
Reviewed by Vivienne, Age 9
San Francisco Book Review
http://citybookreview.com/on-the-move-mass-migrations/

"Written in a narrative style this book is appropriate to introduce the concept of migration for early learners."

The concept of animal groups that include hundreds and/or thousands of a species that move together seasonally is explained in the opening pages as migration. With the recurring phrase of “on the move” the author describes the gathering of various species and continues the explanation with how they are moving and why. Often the reason is the mating season or getting ready for colder or warmer weather. Written in a narrative style this book is appropriate to introduce the concept of migration for early learners. Additional details and fact boxes are included at the end of the book. Educators will find a detailed and helpful resource and lesson guide at the publisher’s website. ~ Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

 "I highly recommend this book for classroom teaching."

The author did a great job in explaining how hundred or thousands of the same animals migrate from one location to another. Some travel in groups due to climate change, food, to give birth in a warm safe place. This movement or migration can take place during the winter, spring, summer and fall.

In the winter, some move to the cold mountain to keep mosquitoes away from them.

In the spring some sea animals travel with their calves to northern waters.

During summer, some animals find their mates and females lay their eggs in the warmth. At the end of summer crickets sing their evening song, bats wakes up and flex their wings.

During the autumn chilly air, monarch butterflies flutter their brilliant orange and gold wings.

The author describes the migratory patterns of each animal in this book which also includes four pages of learning activities for creative minds. Animal migration: what, when, where and why? As always wonderful illustrations by Susan Detwiler which helps tell the story. I highly recommend this book for classroom teaching. ~ Ella Johnson, owner of Memorable Children Books & Gifts

"There's information galore for earthkeepers and animal lovers..."

Spring is migration time. In our area thousands of salamanders move from their winter homes in the woods to the ponds and pools where they'll mate and lay eggs. The air is filled with vees of geese honking their way north, while on the coast thousands of horseshoe crabs scuttle out of the bay and onto sandy beaches. Scotti Cohn shares migration secrets from across the animal kingdom, through different habitats and over a year of seasons. Chimney swifts and monarch butterflies are more visible during fall migrations; come winter, elephant seals are on the move. There's information galore for earthkeepers and animal lovers who want to know more about the creatures who share our planet. ~ Sue Heavenrich, Sally's Bookshelf

"While it would be fun to read to younger students, it would also be useful as an engagement activity that could lead into a discussion of animal migration."

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?

The text begins with an age appropriate definition of migration, then follows with examples from many representatives of the animal kingdom—amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish. Each example is accompanied with an explanation as to why the animal migrates (eg., food source, mating) and beautiful illustrations depicting the animal in its habitat.

The publisher states that the text is "so much more than a picture book" and this is quite true. While it would be fun to read to younger students, it would also be useful as an engagement activity that could lead into a discussion of animal migration. The publisher provides supplemental resources on its website that include teaching activities and interactive quizzes. The text is aligned to Common Core as well. ~ Sarah Haines, Science Education Professor

"This is a fascinating glimpse at the mass migrations of animals young students will enjoy..."

This is a fascinating glimpse at the mass migrations of animals. The times and reasons for migrations vary, but the artwork in this book brings excitement to the topic with full-page, full-color depictions of the animals. The locales vary so children who live in different parts of the country may have seen some of these animals in motion. For example, because the monarch butterfly has a wide migration route, many children will be familiar with them. Newly independent readers can tackle this beginning nonfiction book with a bit of assistance with more difficult words such as "amphipods." In the back of the book are several activities that can be downloaded and printed from the publisher's website. This would be an excellent book to read and discuss in the homeschool or classroom setting.

~ D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE (Amazon.com)

"Beautiful New Animal Book"

Cohn and Detwiler hit another one out of the park. Cohn chose such a variety of animals that there is no doubt the reader gets a broad view of migration - a much broader view than one gets from simply thinking about birds flying south for the winter. From caribou to bats to snakes, she touches on them all. Of course, there are also sandhill cranes and chimney swifts. The details Detwiler adds to her gorgeous illustrations make the reader believe she is part of the scene. Carefully, she depicts all parts of the story, including such items as salamander eggs. It's hard to pick a favorite scene, but it may be a tossup between the gathering of monarch butterflies and the bald eagle finding a large salmon on the move. With the added value of four pages of creative fun, complete with links to teaching materials, this is a wonderful new source.

~ Sue Poduska, Gaithersburg, MD (posted on Amazon.com)

"Delight to read! Educational."

On The Move is a new picture book by Scotti Cohn. The book is available in both print and e-book formats. I’m reviewing the e-book format.

On the Move is beautifully illustrated by Susan Detwiler, who with her wonderful talent has brought to life the words of Scotti Cohn. This is a charming picture book which is also educational. It will not only be a delight to the age group it’s aimed at but also to the adults who read it to their children, or teachers to their class.

Cohn has, with the help of Detwiler’s drawings, taken us on a journey that lets us learn about the migratory patterns of various animals. But more than that, she writes in a captivating and easy way for young children to understand, about the various habitats, as well as the eating and breeding habits of a large assortment of animals. I liked that she included among the more well known, ones that perhaps are less spoken about, such as snakes and salamanders.

Each page gives enough detail for a younger child to grasp where that particular animal migrates to, why it does and what it will find when it arrives. One of my favourite pages in this story book was the one about horseshoe crabs. There is so much information, given in such an easy to follow way. Not only do we learn about the crabs, but also about the birds that come to eat their eggs and the dragonflies that pass through the same area at the same time. Detweiler’s illustration of this page is just lovely, capturing all those elements that Cohn writes about. Not only is this a feast of information for the little ones, it's also a feast for their eyes!

Finally, at the end of the book are some activity pages that both parents and teachers can do with their children. They contain a set of questions, printed information about a selection of animals and the answers. Again a really educational book that is fun to read.

I certainly think this is an excellent addition to any home or classroom.

~ Helen A Howell