Thursday, December 10, 2020

WINGED WONDERS: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway

 Congratulations to Tricia Clark who won Fly, Firefly! from Monday's blog. She's an "old" friend, but a new follower to my blog. 


Author Meeg Pincus is a gifted author who I featured on my blog a year ago. I am new to Yas Imamura's work but as you'll see in the color palette she used in the illustrations, she is also very talented. This is another fine picture book published by Sleeping Bear Press.




REVIEW



In this way, Meg Pincus begins the story of how two Canadian scientists, many volunteers, a young married couple, and a village in Mexico worked together to solve the monarch migration mystery.



In 1976, the world finally learned the answer...with a groundbreaking discovery.


It began with Fred and Norah Urquhart, two scientists who spent 30 years studying the monarch mystery. In his lab, Fred tagged the butterfly's wings with--of all things--small price tags. Norah placed ads in newspapers throughout North and Central America asking for volunteers to tag butterfly wings. She kept track of every "tidbit of information" that was returned to her.

Thousands of science teachers, backyard gardeners, and other curious souls answered Norah's ads and became citizen scientists. 



Ken Brugger and his Mexican wife, Catalina, rode through Mexico for two years trying to track the butterflies' "twisting trail." 

Villagers in central Mexico directed the couple to look for the monarchs in their oyamel tree groves. 


Catalina kept 40 notebooks of monarch data and "crunched through early morning snow, high in the Sierra Madre mountains" and was rewarded by being the first to spot them.


But who provided the proof that Fred Urquhart needed to announce the discovery of The Great Monarch Migration?




CURRICULUM RESOURCE 

Winged Wonders ends with a plea to help save the diminishing monarch population. The last spread encourages readers to be a part of preserving landing spots and airstreams on which the monarchs depend. The back matter includes more about the migration discovery as well as ways in which everyone can help monarchs. I'm going to see about planting milkweed in my garden! Here are some links to educational activities


PUBLICATION JOURNEY

Since I'm always interested in an author's journey, I found Meeg's interview on Kathy Temean's blog to be inspiring. If you've ever been discouraged by what appears to be a dead-end in writing a picture book biography (as I have!) here's another way to look at a topic. 


GIVEAWAY

Leave me a comment (with your email address, if you are new to my blog) by December 12 at 6 PM. Share this post on social media for an additional chance to win the book!

16 comments:

Melissa Miles said...

What a beautiful book! This would be perfect for an elementary classroom. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

Carol Baldwin said...

I agree, Melissa!

Gail Cartee said...

My grandchildren love butterflies. When we visit the Smokies they find butterfly patches and twirl with them. I know they would enjoy this book.

Carol Baldwin said...

Happy to add your name, Gail!

Jana Leah B said...

Butterflies are fascinating & this book looks so pretty.
turtle6422 at gmail dot com

Carol Baldwin said...

It is, Jana Leah!

Unknown said...

Would love to have this book for my library! My cousin raises monarch butterflies and always tells me about releasing them for their migration. Several classes in my school study butterflies--this would be a great addition to our collection. Thanks for making it available.

Carol Baldwin said...

Yes, it would make a great addition to your library, Gwen!

Danielle H. said...

I love Monarch butterflies! This book sounds fascinating and is also gorgeous. Thank you for the chance to win a copy. I shared on tumblr: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/637142157124321280/winged-wonders-a-picture-book-review-and-giveaway

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Danielle. Your name goes in twice!

Rosi said...

Wht a beautiful book. And how interesting to learn the journey of finding the migration. Thanks for telling me about it. I will have to get a copy.

Barbara Younger said...

What a fascinating story, and I LOVE the page with the Mexican art.

Carol Baldwin said...

Agreed, Barbara!

Cathy Stefanec Ogren said...

This is a beautiful book. It has so much to offer readers and teachers.

Susan said...

beautiful pictues AND educational! Would love to be entered!

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks Cathy and Susan. You're both in!

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