Bierregaard, Rob  Belle's Journey: An Osprey Takes Flight
Gr. 4–6     106 pp.     Charlesbridge

Illustrated by Kate Garchinsky. Belle, an osprey born on Martha's Vineyard, is tracked by two scientists as she migrates to South America and back. Bierregaard (one of the scientists) writes engagingly about Belle's adventure — over eighteen months and thousands of miles — in a narrative text that reads like a story. Gorgeous illustrations in watercolor pencil, ink, and aqua crayon help readers visualize the journey. Reading list, websites. Ind.
Subjects: Birds; Martha's Vineyard (MA); Scientists; Migration; Animals—Osprey; South America

Evans, Marilyn Grohoske  Spit & Sticks: A Chimney Full of Swifts
Gr. K–3     32 pp.     Charlesbridge

Illustrated by Nicole Gsell. This informative book follows a pair of chimney swifts as they arrive in Texas, build their nest in a farmhouse chimney, raise their chicks, and fly south for the winter. Attractive watercolor collages add extra meaning by showing the farmhouse humans (not mentioned in the narrative) engaging in parallel "nesting" activities, preparing for and welcoming a new baby. Additional facts about chimney swifts are appended.
Subjects: Birds; Migration

Hirsch, Rebecca E.  The Monarchs Are Missing: A Butterfly Mystery
Gr. 4–6     56 pp.     Millbrook

Some methods of studying monarch butterfly migrations — such as tagging and measuring resting colonies — show that populations are decreasing, and Hirsch investigates why. A readable narrative, illustrated with excellent photos and infographics, discusses the environmental culprits (deforestation, herbicides, climate change) and how scientists are helping. Kids, too, can help conserve monarch populations with the appended "citizen scientist" suggestions. Reading list. Bib., ind.
Subjects: Insects and Invertebrates; Environment—Conservation—Wildlife; Migration; Animals—Butterflies; Scientists

O'Sullivan, Joanne  Migration Nation: Animals on the Go from Coast to Coast
Gr. 4–6, middle school     96 pp.     Charlesbridge/Imagine

Well organized and featuring catchy subheads ("Salmon Street: Born to Run"), this introduction to migration by land, sea, and sky introduces the phenomenon and details the process for nine different animals. For each, there is a habitat map, statistics about participants and distances, activities, food sources, complications, and working solutions. Bright photos on color-coded pages illustrate the text. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.
Subjects: Natural History; Migration; Animal behavior

Sayre, April Pulley  Warbler Wave
Gr. K–3   32 pp.    Simon/Beach Lane

With Jeff Sayre. This science picture book, featuring spectacular photographs and spare, precise text, focuses on the migrating group of tiny birds called warblers. The poetic text mirrors the birds' flight patterns: very short rhyming lines ("They search. Stalk. / Wag. Walk") are contained within the one long poem. Readers can closely observe bird activity in the photographs, and the pages are skillfully laid out to guide the eye. Websites.
Subject: Birds; Stories in rhyme; Migration; Bird watching; Animals—Wood warblers

From the March 2019 issue of Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book.