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The Journey: Stories of Migration
Join Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Lambert Davis as they follow the majestic migrations of caribou, locusts, gray whales, terns, and more creatures who must travel to survive.
Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant joins naturalist painter Lambert Davis to create a vibrant picture book that follow the migratory journeys of some magnificent locusts, gray whales, American silver eels, monarch butterflies, caribou, and terns. Rylant's lively, poetic prose and Davis' exquisite, dramatic paintings offer an awe-inspiring look at the animal world and the outstanding tests of endurance and strength that the animals have undergone for centuries, and which continue to cycle on and inspire us today.
Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant joins naturalist painter Lambert Davis to create a vibrant picture book that follow the migratory journeys of some magnificent locusts, gray whales, American silver eels, monarch butterflies, caribou, and terns. Rylant's lively, poetic prose and Davis' exquisite, dramatic paintings offer an awe-inspiring look at the animal world and the outstanding tests of endurance and strength that the animals have undergone for centuries, and which continue to cycle on and inspire us today.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2006
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
385 books873 followersCynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 21, 2021
Well first and foremost, I am very glad and most appreciative of the fact that author Cynthia Rylant in her 2006 non fiction picture book The Journey: Stories of Migration tells her six animal migration accounts (about locusts, whales, eels, Monarch butterflies, caribou and terns) both engagingly and with just enough factual detail for the intended age group, for older children from about the age of six to around nine or so (not too academic in scope and with Lambert Davis' brightly vibrant accompanying artwork providing an aesthetically delightful and realistic visual mirror, but also with The Journey: Stories of Migration thankfully neither being too textually simplistic nor ever artificially and annoyingly humorous). And furthermore, that Cynthia Rylant in The Journey: Stories of Migration also shows to her readers (or to her listeners) that not all migrating animals journey every year (that for example locusts only migrate if there are too many of them in a given place and that their migrations can often be pretty environmentally destructive) and indeed when Monarch butterflies migrate, it is in fact a two-part journey and that it is actually the second generation that returns and not the original migrants, this really is an added bonus as Rylant provides information that definitely is not always all that common knowledge.
However, albeit for The Journey: Stories of Migration the combination of text and images should really be four stars, that Cynthia Rylant has not provided any sources, has not included a bibliography, I do find this majorly academically frustrating, a huge shortcoming, and enough so for me to lower my rating for The Journey: Stories of Migration to only three stars (as I am certainly increasingly frustrated and annoyed regarding how many strictly non fiction picture book for older children just do not bother with listing, with including bibliographic materials).
However, albeit for The Journey: Stories of Migration the combination of text and images should really be four stars, that Cynthia Rylant has not provided any sources, has not included a bibliography, I do find this majorly academically frustrating, a huge shortcoming, and enough so for me to lower my rating for The Journey: Stories of Migration to only three stars (as I am certainly increasingly frustrated and annoyed regarding how many strictly non fiction picture book for older children just do not bother with listing, with including bibliographic materials).
May 5, 2025
Have you ever wondered why animals leave their homes and travel far away? The Journey: Stories of Migration by Cynthia Rylant is a book that explains how and why some animals move from one place to another. It talks about whales, birds, fish, butterflies, and more. The book shows that animals travel to find food, stay warm, or have babies. The main ideas are survival, nature, and how animals are connected to the world around them. It is a informational book, but it feels like a story.
I liked this book because it helped me learn about animals in a calm and simple way. It is a good book for kids who are just starting to learn about science and nature. If I read this with a class, I would use it to talk about the seasons, animals, or the environment. It was a WOW book for me because it made me think about how hard animals work to stay alive.
The way Cynthia Rylant writes is easy to follow. She gives clear facts but still makes it feel like a story. Her words help you picture what the animals are doing. The pictures in the book are soft and colorful and match the writing really well.
This book is anti-bias. It does not show people, but it teaches respect for animals and nature. It helps kids care about living things and understand their journeys. The Journey is a great book for learning and thinking about the world in a gentle way.
I liked this book because it helped me learn about animals in a calm and simple way. It is a good book for kids who are just starting to learn about science and nature. If I read this with a class, I would use it to talk about the seasons, animals, or the environment. It was a WOW book for me because it made me think about how hard animals work to stay alive.
The way Cynthia Rylant writes is easy to follow. She gives clear facts but still makes it feel like a story. Her words help you picture what the animals are doing. The pictures in the book are soft and colorful and match the writing really well.
This book is anti-bias. It does not show people, but it teaches respect for animals and nature. It helps kids care about living things and understand their journeys. The Journey is a great book for learning and thinking about the world in a gentle way.
May 26, 2018
There are too many great things to say about this book! It is a wealth of knowledge. It is interesting, informative, colorful! A must have for learning about migration, life cycles, hidden secrets in the animal world!
December 16, 2019
Migratory journeys of locusts, whales, eels, butterflies, caribou, and terns.
January 4, 2021
Beautiful pictures, very informative.
July 15, 2022
I love Cynthia Rylant’s books. This one tells of several different species’ migrations and has beautiful illustrations to go along with it.
May 26, 2025
AR - L
August 29, 2008
Recommended for 3rd through 5th grade. This informational non-fiction book has such beautiful pictures and an interesting story to tell about migration. The pictures and the information is this book are excellent. I loved learning about the migration of the locust, gray whale, American silver eels, Monarch butterflies, caribou, and Terns. The pictures are so beautiful. I could find many uses for this book in the class room for science, geography, art, reading, and creative writing.
Genre: Infromational non-fiction
Grades: K-5
Activities:
1. Because the pictures are so beautiful, I would use an E.L.M.O. to enlarge the pictures on a big screen for the whole class to see. I could use each section for a 3 to 4 week unit on migrations. Integrating science/geography/ art/writing into the unit. During the unit I could encourage the students to use websites such as Journey North to track migration of the Monarch butterfly and other migrating animals.
2. I could have several art projections creating the animals and making maps of the train that is crossed during migrations. The book is so well written and illustrated, that you don't even realize it's a science lesson. For creative writing, I could ask the students to choose one of the animals and to write about what they would see during the migration. This could lead into a geography lesson covering and so many different topics.
Genre: Infromational non-fiction
Grades: K-5
Activities:
1. Because the pictures are so beautiful, I would use an E.L.M.O. to enlarge the pictures on a big screen for the whole class to see. I could use each section for a 3 to 4 week unit on migrations. Integrating science/geography/ art/writing into the unit. During the unit I could encourage the students to use websites such as Journey North to track migration of the Monarch butterfly and other migrating animals.
2. I could have several art projections creating the animals and making maps of the train that is crossed during migrations. The book is so well written and illustrated, that you don't even realize it's a science lesson. For creative writing, I could ask the students to choose one of the animals and to write about what they would see during the migration. This could lead into a geography lesson covering and so many different topics.
July 28, 2013
Book 34 Bibliographic Citation:
Rylant, C. (2006). The journey: Stories of migration. New York, NY: The Blue Sky Press.
Age/Grade Level: (Ages 7–11, Grades 2–6)
Summary:
Follow stories of six migratory animals as they travel the world in tune with their inner voice. These fascinating creatures include the monarch butterfly, gray whale, Arctic tern, American silver eel, and desert locust.
Awards/Reviewing Sources:
Publisher’s Weekly (February 20, 2006)
School Library Journal (March 2006, Vol. 52 Issue 3, p. 214)
Booklist (December 1, 2005)
Curriculum Content/Standard for 21st Century Learner:
This book would support a 5th grade science class unit on the migration of animals as it offers details on six different species, their habits, migratory paths, and offers conjectures on the purposes behind each of these migration patterns.
AASL Standard
1.2.1. Display initiative and engagement by posing questions and investigating the answers beyond the collection of superficial facts.
Recommendation for student’s personal literature selection:
This is a perfect read for students who enjoy fabulous illustrations of animals in their nature habitat, or for the student who is deeply interested in science and wants to pursue reasons behind migratory patterns, despite the fact that not all reasons behind the “how” and “why” of this travel have been determined.
Genre:
Picture Book, Nonfiction/Science, Geography
Rylant, C. (2006). The journey: Stories of migration. New York, NY: The Blue Sky Press.
Age/Grade Level: (Ages 7–11, Grades 2–6)
Summary:
Follow stories of six migratory animals as they travel the world in tune with their inner voice. These fascinating creatures include the monarch butterfly, gray whale, Arctic tern, American silver eel, and desert locust.
Awards/Reviewing Sources:
Publisher’s Weekly (February 20, 2006)
School Library Journal (March 2006, Vol. 52 Issue 3, p. 214)
Booklist (December 1, 2005)
Curriculum Content/Standard for 21st Century Learner:
This book would support a 5th grade science class unit on the migration of animals as it offers details on six different species, their habits, migratory paths, and offers conjectures on the purposes behind each of these migration patterns.
AASL Standard
1.2.1. Display initiative and engagement by posing questions and investigating the answers beyond the collection of superficial facts.
Recommendation for student’s personal literature selection:
This is a perfect read for students who enjoy fabulous illustrations of animals in their nature habitat, or for the student who is deeply interested in science and wants to pursue reasons behind migratory patterns, despite the fact that not all reasons behind the “how” and “why” of this travel have been determined.
Genre:
Picture Book, Nonfiction/Science, Geography
March 23, 2015
"The Journey: Stories of Migration" is an informational text that is appropriate for grades 3-5. The book tells the story of six migratory species: locusts, grey whales, American silver eels, monarch butterflies, caribou, and terns. Written by Cynthia Rylant, a Newberry Medalist, this book presents nonfiction information in a storybook style that is reader friendly for students. The illustrations by Lambert Davis are breathtakingly captivating. I myself learned a lot about the journey some animals take to thrive. The strength and endurance displayed by migratory animals can inspire all of those who read the book!
This book can be read to students for a science integrated read aloud. Students can create informational posters by referring to the book and through additional research. Students will be exposed to the genre of informational text and can be motivated to engage in the topic as well as read more from the genre. Furthermore, comprehension strategies can be practiced and students can expand their vocabulary. Overall this book is a must to include in any classroom library as well as for read alouds.
This book can be read to students for a science integrated read aloud. Students can create informational posters by referring to the book and through additional research. Students will be exposed to the genre of informational text and can be motivated to engage in the topic as well as read more from the genre. Furthermore, comprehension strategies can be practiced and students can expand their vocabulary. Overall this book is a must to include in any classroom library as well as for read alouds.
June 28, 2008
This is a beautifully illustrated book that describes the incredible lifestyles of seven migratoy animals: locusts, gray whales, glass eels, monarch butterflies, caribou, and terns. Did you know that locusts are grasshoppers who adapt into different animals when there isn't enough food where they live? Or that all glass eels are born and die in the Sargasso Sea, but travel to the rivers in America to live their adult lives?
Lambert Davis's pictures are vibrant accompaniments to Cynthia Rylant's compelling passages about these animals and their travels. Children will certainly learn a lot while reading this book (I know I did), but there's nothing boring or dry about the narrative. This would absolutely make a fantastic read aloud for the entire family.
Lambert Davis's pictures are vibrant accompaniments to Cynthia Rylant's compelling passages about these animals and their travels. Children will certainly learn a lot while reading this book (I know I did), but there's nothing boring or dry about the narrative. This would absolutely make a fantastic read aloud for the entire family.
April 26, 2012
This is a very interesting book. A patron pointed it out to me, and I put it on hold. I did not know that grasshoppers become locusts when there is not enough food for newly hatched eggs. I also did not know that locusts will migrate around the world following the rain back to their birth place where hopefully there will be enough food for them.
April 8, 2014
The Journey: Stories of Migration is a fascinating book that describes the lifestyles of seven migratoy animals: locusts, gray whales, glass eels, monarch butterflies, caribou, and terns. The beautiful, detailed illustrations bring the information to life. This is a great book to introduce a science lesson on migration. I could also use it as a resource for a research project.
August 21, 2014
Perfect non fiction book for the elementary student. The pictures are beautiful and the information in the book is plentiful. It can be a challenge for the young student to write a report without the write book. This book has plenty of information and at the same time engages rthe reader as he or she looks beyond the words on the page.
March 11, 2010
Excellent introduction to migration for older children. From arctic birds, whales and caribou, to eels and butterflies and even locusts. Their migration journey is explained in an easy to understand way and accompanied by beautiful pictures.
February 25, 2011
I heard an introduction to Cynthia Rylant's writings in a second grade class. I have never read a book written by her, so this is the first time. The illustrations were beautiful and her descriptions were very vivid.
December 29, 2010
I can use this with my butterfly unit. It's a great example of poetic non-fiction.
June 21, 2011
Great read aloud to my four and five year old daughters. One animal per night was just right. Very informative and well written.
December 13, 2012
So much information and gorgeous illustrations. Written in a story book style so was able to read and share with my students and information was accessible to them.
October 26, 2015
The Journey is a beautifully written an illustrated narration of the migration of 4 different animal species, as interesting to an adult as to the child being read to. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews