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Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals
This powerful nonfiction picture book explores wildlife crossings around the world and how they are helping save thousands of animals every day.
Around the world, bridges, tunnels, and highways are constantly being built to help people get from one place to another. But what happens when construction spreads over, under, across, and through animal habitats? Thankfully, groups of concerned citizens, scientists, engineers, and construction crews have come together to create wildlife crossings to help keep animals safe.
From elk traversing a wildlife bridge across a Canadian interstate to titi monkeys using rope bridges over a Costa Rican road to salamanders creeping through tiny tunnels beneath a Massachusetts street, young readers are certain to be delighted and inspired by these ingenious solutions that are saving the lives of countless wild animals.
Around the world, bridges, tunnels, and highways are constantly being built to help people get from one place to another. But what happens when construction spreads over, under, across, and through animal habitats? Thankfully, groups of concerned citizens, scientists, engineers, and construction crews have come together to create wildlife crossings to help keep animals safe.
From elk traversing a wildlife bridge across a Canadian interstate to titi monkeys using rope bridges over a Costa Rican road to salamanders creeping through tiny tunnels beneath a Massachusetts street, young readers are certain to be delighted and inspired by these ingenious solutions that are saving the lives of countless wild animals.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 13, 2020
185 people want to read
About the author
Katy S. Duffield
18 books41 followersKaty is the award-winning author of more than forty books for children.
Her two most recent picture books are CROSSINGS: EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURES FOR EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS (illus. Mike Orodán, S&S/Beach Lane) and HOUSE FINDS A HOME (illus. Jen Corace, Viking Children's).
Katy also has two picture books forthcoming in 2026--WE ARE THE KEYSTONES (illus. Hannah Salyer, S&S/Beach Lane) and START YOUR ENGINES! (illus. Chiara Galletti, Sourcebooks).
Katy's work has also appeared in numerous children's magazines, and she has written for several educational publishers.
For more information about Katy and her work, please visit http://katyduffield.com/HOME.html.
Her two most recent picture books are CROSSINGS: EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURES FOR EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS (illus. Mike Orodán, S&S/Beach Lane) and HOUSE FINDS A HOME (illus. Jen Corace, Viking Children's).
Katy also has two picture books forthcoming in 2026--WE ARE THE KEYSTONES (illus. Hannah Salyer, S&S/Beach Lane) and START YOUR ENGINES! (illus. Chiara Galletti, Sourcebooks).
Katy's work has also appeared in numerous children's magazines, and she has written for several educational publishers.
For more information about Katy and her work, please visit http://katyduffield.com/HOME.html.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
January 11, 2021
While processing this new purchase for the elementary school library, I could not help but be drawn in to the pages within the covers I was stamping, covering, barcoding. Vibrant illustrations take center stage in this inspiring and moving nonfiction piece. Each page highlights a type of structure built to allow a different creature to cross busy highways. Unlike the middle-school level title. Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill, this one does not focus on the problem that led to the solution. It merely introduces the topic by asking, "What happens when construction spreads over, under, across, and through their habitats?" There is no roadkill or anything frightening in this, only the fruits of the compassionate.
In few words and gorgeous illustrations, I walk away knowing that there are scientists, city planners, and CHILDREN at work making this world habitable and safe for all kinds of creatures. As an adult, even I am more knowledgeable, so that's why I marked it "all ages." In fact, learning that North Amherst has created an under-road crossing for spotted salamanders to travel to their breeding grounds makes me want to advocate for something similar for our frogs. I remember pulling over and crying one rainy evening after slipping on both the live and dead frogs I ran over when the entire road was covered with them trying to cross all at once. This book makes me want us all to do better at coexisting.
Content for classrooms:
Language study:
Adjectives, synonyms, writing: On each page is a different animal and the text describes their passing with a different synonym for cross, walk, travel. That could be a good ELA focus for this book that fits within civics and science units as well.
Read aloud options:
One part per page is bolded and only 2 short lines of text. You could read that aloud and it's a very easy text that can illustrate the concepts of over, under, across, through for the youngest audience.
There is another part per page that is smaller font, lighter, that gives more specific information about what's going on on that page if you want to take it up a notch for older readers. I'd also point out the universal traits and experiences that we all share: the need to protect animals when our own behaviors threaten their existence.
Content:
Wildlife:
Each page focuses on a different creature: Panther, bull elk, pangolins, red crabs, etc. You could research the habitat of each and figure out where each creature is going. The monkey has a rope over a highway while elephants have an underground tunnel. Why? You could have students study (after) or apply knowledge of prior learning of these organisms and how they move, where they live, what they eat, etc. to get a bigger picture.
geography: Each structure is in a different part of the world. Map it! See what creatures inhabit different parts of the world!
Civics: Civic responsibility is evident throughout with all of these construction projects. A fifth grade classroom can ask students to apply knowledge of how our government works to explore what had to happen to get these structures built.
Scientific study: The author explains how scientists went about studying the behaviors of the bears to find the ideal place to build the overpass.
This book belongs in every elementary library, and I hope some teachers and librarians use it to prompt inquiry.
In few words and gorgeous illustrations, I walk away knowing that there are scientists, city planners, and CHILDREN at work making this world habitable and safe for all kinds of creatures. As an adult, even I am more knowledgeable, so that's why I marked it "all ages." In fact, learning that North Amherst has created an under-road crossing for spotted salamanders to travel to their breeding grounds makes me want to advocate for something similar for our frogs. I remember pulling over and crying one rainy evening after slipping on both the live and dead frogs I ran over when the entire road was covered with them trying to cross all at once. This book makes me want us all to do better at coexisting.
Content for classrooms:
Language study:
Adjectives, synonyms, writing: On each page is a different animal and the text describes their passing with a different synonym for cross, walk, travel. That could be a good ELA focus for this book that fits within civics and science units as well.
Read aloud options:
One part per page is bolded and only 2 short lines of text. You could read that aloud and it's a very easy text that can illustrate the concepts of over, under, across, through for the youngest audience.
There is another part per page that is smaller font, lighter, that gives more specific information about what's going on on that page if you want to take it up a notch for older readers. I'd also point out the universal traits and experiences that we all share: the need to protect animals when our own behaviors threaten their existence.
Content:
Wildlife:
Each page focuses on a different creature: Panther, bull elk, pangolins, red crabs, etc. You could research the habitat of each and figure out where each creature is going. The monkey has a rope over a highway while elephants have an underground tunnel. Why? You could have students study (after) or apply knowledge of prior learning of these organisms and how they move, where they live, what they eat, etc. to get a bigger picture.
geography: Each structure is in a different part of the world. Map it! See what creatures inhabit different parts of the world!
Civics: Civic responsibility is evident throughout with all of these construction projects. A fifth grade classroom can ask students to apply knowledge of how our government works to explore what had to happen to get these structures built.
Scientific study: The author explains how scientists went about studying the behaviors of the bears to find the ideal place to build the overpass.
This book belongs in every elementary library, and I hope some teachers and librarians use it to prompt inquiry.
May 27, 2021
Exceeded my high expectations. So interesting to learn that these assists are being built all over the world. Lovely to learn that one in Costa Rica was developed by children! Art is glorious. Map and other after-matter is great.
The only quibble I'd make is that the fine print on the pages that gives more info. about each crossing is hard for older eyes to read, and is probably really hard to see on an ebook. But the hardcover should be in every library!
Do note that this is only a sampling of the kinds and placings of crossings. If you live in the US, contact your state's Dept of Transportation to learn what they've been doing. Also your County Extension offices and universities if they have an appropriate department (Civil Engineering, Highway Planning, Wildlife Management, etc.). You might even get to set up a class Field Trip to see one... I bet the turtle crossing in Stevens Point WI can be viewed with a guide.
The only quibble I'd make is that the fine print on the pages that gives more info. about each crossing is hard for older eyes to read, and is probably really hard to see on an ebook. But the hardcover should be in every library!
Do note that this is only a sampling of the kinds and placings of crossings. If you live in the US, contact your state's Dept of Transportation to learn what they've been doing. Also your County Extension offices and universities if they have an appropriate department (Civil Engineering, Highway Planning, Wildlife Management, etc.). You might even get to set up a class Field Trip to see one... I bet the turtle crossing in Stevens Point WI can be viewed with a guide.
March 29, 2022
To say that we humans haven't made things easy for the animals of the Earth would be a vast understatement. We reduce their habitat to clear areas for farming, and we make highways that cut right through their homes. How are animals able to find food, or mates, when they can't journey across these highways? In this book you'll meet many species and the structures (bridges, tunnels and more) that humans built to help animals cross the gap to areas of safety. The language of this book is simple, so it would be great for parents to share with little ones, or older children reading independently. There is additional information in the back of the book about each animal and structure they use. A quick search on Youtube will show videocams of animals using these types of land bridges. It makes me happy to know that these structures were made to help our animal friends coexist with the human world.
Reviewed by: Lisa Coleman, Vernon Area Public Library Youth and School Services
Reviewed by: Lisa Coleman, Vernon Area Public Library Youth and School Services
December 28, 2020
This educational, visually stunning book is a gem on the shelves. Most of us have seen accidents caused when animals enter roadways--collisions that often kill the animals and sometimes human drivers, as well, and thought, "Can't something be done?"
Things are being done, all over the world, when human ingenuity is encouraged as part of road development plans. From mighty African elephants to tiny spotted salamanders, from moose to monkeys, animal crossways are allowing animals to pass easily over and under highways without being killed or causing an accident.
Young readers will enjoy seeing the exotic locales and the large variety of animals on display, and all readers will likely learn something. Best of all, the book emphasizes that animals matter and are worth protecting, and humans can use our abilities to help them when our civilization encroaches upon their homes.
Things are being done, all over the world, when human ingenuity is encouraged as part of road development plans. From mighty African elephants to tiny spotted salamanders, from moose to monkeys, animal crossways are allowing animals to pass easily over and under highways without being killed or causing an accident.
Young readers will enjoy seeing the exotic locales and the large variety of animals on display, and all readers will likely learn something. Best of all, the book emphasizes that animals matter and are worth protecting, and humans can use our abilities to help them when our civilization encroaches upon their homes.
May 18, 2020
What a cool book! Crossings shows off illustrations of real places all around the world that have tunnels, bridges, and more that benefit animals from having to cross man-made structures like highways. It sure would be wonderful if we could implement these kinds of natural architecture everywhere, for all critters!
February 21, 2022
Wow, this book was so very informative on a subject I didn't know about. I learned more about certain species and how they are aided in moving across the land as more people continue to develop it.
November 16, 2021
"Over, under, across, through.
Around the world, construction crews build
overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels-
ways for people to get from one place to another.
(page turn)
But what about the animals that live in these places?
(page turn)
What happens when construction spreads over, under, across and through their habitats?"
LOVE THIS BOOK. PLEASE READ THIS ALOUD TO YOUR STUDENTS!!!
Duffield describes different structures that have been built so animals can move through their habitats peacefully. Some I've never heard of before - a bridge built especially for red crabs leaving the forest for the ocean (India)? A passageway beneath a busy street in Massachusetts for spotted salamanders headed towards ponds for breeding?
The primary text is delightful ("spotted salamanders shimmy THROUGH peewee passageways beneath a Massachusetts street") and each page includes a smaller font, sidebar with additional details. OVER, UNDER, ACROSS, THROUGH are woven throughout the book. The back matter includes additional details about each crossing.
AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE MAGNIFICENT!!! Your students will love looking and looking again. Pose questions like, "What do you notice about the design?" and "Why do you think they designed it that way?" have a lot of potential for animated peer-led discussions!
PAIR THIS TEXT with Sea Lions in the Parking Lot: Animals on the Move in a Time of Pandemic by Todaro and Siems. Describes how animals emerged into once populated areas when humans had to stay inside for the pandemic. STUNNING illustrations. (Read Sea Lions first.)
Around the world, construction crews build
overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels-
ways for people to get from one place to another.
(page turn)
But what about the animals that live in these places?
(page turn)
What happens when construction spreads over, under, across and through their habitats?"
LOVE THIS BOOK. PLEASE READ THIS ALOUD TO YOUR STUDENTS!!!
Duffield describes different structures that have been built so animals can move through their habitats peacefully. Some I've never heard of before - a bridge built especially for red crabs leaving the forest for the ocean (India)? A passageway beneath a busy street in Massachusetts for spotted salamanders headed towards ponds for breeding?
The primary text is delightful ("spotted salamanders shimmy THROUGH peewee passageways beneath a Massachusetts street") and each page includes a smaller font, sidebar with additional details. OVER, UNDER, ACROSS, THROUGH are woven throughout the book. The back matter includes additional details about each crossing.
AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE MAGNIFICENT!!! Your students will love looking and looking again. Pose questions like, "What do you notice about the design?" and "Why do you think they designed it that way?" have a lot of potential for animated peer-led discussions!
PAIR THIS TEXT with Sea Lions in the Parking Lot: Animals on the Move in a Time of Pandemic by Todaro and Siems. Describes how animals emerged into once populated areas when humans had to stay inside for the pandemic. STUNNING illustrations. (Read Sea Lions first.)
February 14, 2021
This book is fantastic!
November 30, 2020
Richie’s Picks: CROSSINGS: EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURES FOR EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS by Katy S. Duffield and Mike Orodan, ill., Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books, October 2020, 48p., ISBN: 978-1-5344-6579-4
(Sung to the tune of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”)
“I came upon a roadkill deer
A sorrowful sight to behold
He lay upon the highway’s edge
His body was stiff and cold”
-- Bob Rivers (1994)
“Commuters on this wildlife bridge have arrived ahead of schedule. Built over Interstate 80 in Utah, the bridge provides a passage for animals to bypass traffic. State officials previously said that it might take years for wildlife to start using the bridge. New footage shows that it has been a success in just its second year. The bridge was built in 2018 to reduce traffic accidents caused by wandering animals.”
-- from CNN (video) “See Utah’s highway wildlife overpass in action” https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/11...
Watch this brief CNN video with the kids! It’s fascinating to observe highlights of the variety of creatures, large and small, day and night, who are taking advantage of this particular wildlife overpass!
It’s sad to see dead animals on the shoulder of the highway. More importantly, the long-term accumulation of these deaths lead to diminishment of the planet’s diversity which is bad for the critters, the planet, and for us. Development by the ever-growing human population has led to the extinction or near-extinction of so many creatures, including birds, fish, mammals, and other creatures,
“Over, under, across, through.
Around the world, construction crews build overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels-- ways for people to get from one place to another.
But what about the animals that live in these places.
What happens when construction spreads over, under, across, and through their habitats?
Around the world, in search of solutions, animal lovers come together.
Opening their minds and their hearts, they work to find ideas, answers.”
CROSSINGS: EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURES FOR EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS is an excellent conservation picture book that illustrates how, around the world, a variety of structures are being built to permit animals to avoid getting smooshed as they travel in populated areas.
What’s fun about CROSSINGS is that the solutions reported go well beyond the typical highway overpasses or underpasses that one might imagine being built for this purpose. For instance, there are blue rope bridges for monkeys in Costa Rica. And special bridges in Australia for the red crab population which annually heads en masse to the Indian Ocean to lay eggs.
Mike Orodan’s illustrations include large endearing images of elephants, koalas, black bears, coyotes, and others. Young kids will enjoy hearing how these structures are being built to save animal lives. But they will get even more excited to pore over these lovely illustrations close up after circle time is over.
In addition to dead critters, accidents that involve animals and vehicles can also lead to human tragedy, so there’s a highway safety issue involved.in diverting animals away from roads. Thus, these animal crossings are an all-around win-win.
Along with sharing CROSSINGS and the CNN video, you might also want to dig out a copy of Arlo Guthrie’s “Mooses Come Walking” poem!
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
(Sung to the tune of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”)
“I came upon a roadkill deer
A sorrowful sight to behold
He lay upon the highway’s edge
His body was stiff and cold”
-- Bob Rivers (1994)
“Commuters on this wildlife bridge have arrived ahead of schedule. Built over Interstate 80 in Utah, the bridge provides a passage for animals to bypass traffic. State officials previously said that it might take years for wildlife to start using the bridge. New footage shows that it has been a success in just its second year. The bridge was built in 2018 to reduce traffic accidents caused by wandering animals.”
-- from CNN (video) “See Utah’s highway wildlife overpass in action” https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/11...
Watch this brief CNN video with the kids! It’s fascinating to observe highlights of the variety of creatures, large and small, day and night, who are taking advantage of this particular wildlife overpass!
It’s sad to see dead animals on the shoulder of the highway. More importantly, the long-term accumulation of these deaths lead to diminishment of the planet’s diversity which is bad for the critters, the planet, and for us. Development by the ever-growing human population has led to the extinction or near-extinction of so many creatures, including birds, fish, mammals, and other creatures,
“Over, under, across, through.
Around the world, construction crews build overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels-- ways for people to get from one place to another.
But what about the animals that live in these places.
What happens when construction spreads over, under, across, and through their habitats?
Around the world, in search of solutions, animal lovers come together.
Opening their minds and their hearts, they work to find ideas, answers.”
CROSSINGS: EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURES FOR EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS is an excellent conservation picture book that illustrates how, around the world, a variety of structures are being built to permit animals to avoid getting smooshed as they travel in populated areas.
What’s fun about CROSSINGS is that the solutions reported go well beyond the typical highway overpasses or underpasses that one might imagine being built for this purpose. For instance, there are blue rope bridges for monkeys in Costa Rica. And special bridges in Australia for the red crab population which annually heads en masse to the Indian Ocean to lay eggs.
Mike Orodan’s illustrations include large endearing images of elephants, koalas, black bears, coyotes, and others. Young kids will enjoy hearing how these structures are being built to save animal lives. But they will get even more excited to pore over these lovely illustrations close up after circle time is over.
In addition to dead critters, accidents that involve animals and vehicles can also lead to human tragedy, so there’s a highway safety issue involved.in diverting animals away from roads. Thus, these animal crossings are an all-around win-win.
Along with sharing CROSSINGS and the CNN video, you might also want to dig out a copy of Arlo Guthrie’s “Mooses Come Walking” poem!
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
January 12, 2021
Here is a gorgeous book by Katy S. Duffield that focuses on one environmental threat to so many different animals, freedom of movement through loss of habitat. With gorgeous mixed-media illustrations by Mike Orodán showing the new pathways (crossings) when animals have only dangerous ways to cross, Duffield explains when new areas have expanded people's thruways, many animals suffer. For example, squirrel gliders in Australia travel from one place to another to eat and breed. A very busy highway made that journey hazardous, so rope bridges have been created above this freeway in more than one place to keep those squirrels safe. High ropes for tiny monkeys in Costa Rica, highway underpasses in Montana for bears and their cubs, and similar underpasses for blue penguins in New Zealand are a few other examples. Additional information is added in the back matter. For a way to show students one more way, of the many, to help animals thrive, this is a great book!
December 15, 2020
What a gorgeous book! Lyrical text and engaging illustrations tell the stories of various structures throughout the world that have been created to help animals get safely from one place to another. This is a fascinating subject that will captivate young animal lovers. A must have for any school or library collection.
April 29, 2023
Engaging illustrations and just the right amount of text for younger students. There is a sidebar on each spread for those who want to know a little more, and back matter for those who want even more details.
May 9, 2024
Using this to start an engineering project with my first graders. They’ll learn about animal habitats and create their own crossing to get their critters to safety.
The kiddos (and I) loved learning about animal crossings around the world.
The kiddos (and I) loved learning about animal crossings around the world.
February 10, 2021
This book is both moving and educational, a testament to what humans can accomplish together when they have a common purpose and caring hearts.
February 18, 2022
Never thought about this before...just kind of assumed that humans did what they needed to without keeping the animals in mind. Happy to be wrong about that!
March 12, 2025
Cool book about all the different animal crossings. Good book to pair with engineering, habitats, or even prepositions.
December 31, 2020
Lovely. I cried.
August 19, 2021
The text is simple enough for even preschool children to understand, showing man-made animal crossings around the world. The paintings of the animals and structures are gorgeous. Informative and fascinating.
March 29, 2021
Have you ever read a book that you cannot stop thinking about? Well, Crossings by Katy Duffield is one such book. The subject is one you do not see that often where humans have collaborated to create crossings over, under, across and through areas of busy transportation where, at one time, animals risked their lives to cross. Such highways have altered their habitat, but in this book, 12 examples from around the world have been constructed to alleviate that. From animals such as elephants, panthers, salamanders and red crabs, just to name a few.
Written in a layered style Duffield offers reading for young children in a kind, non-threatening manner, and in a smaller, lighter font, offers additional information for older readers on the 12 featured animals. This book can be revisited without it ever feeling old, where adults, along with children feel they're learning something new.
Illustrations by Mike Orodan capture the essence of the situation, the collaboration and solutions, in richly hued color and soft, non-threatening tone. It beautifully enhances the reading material without taking away the importance of the material.
Every library, whether it be public, school, classroom or home deserves to host this title as it will inform the reader, and offer hope for the future of us all living together harmoniously here on Earth.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Thanks to Edelweiss for the digital ARC to read and review.
Read more about Crossings in my blog! www.teacherlibrarianconnections.com
Written in a layered style Duffield offers reading for young children in a kind, non-threatening manner, and in a smaller, lighter font, offers additional information for older readers on the 12 featured animals. This book can be revisited without it ever feeling old, where adults, along with children feel they're learning something new.
Illustrations by Mike Orodan capture the essence of the situation, the collaboration and solutions, in richly hued color and soft, non-threatening tone. It beautifully enhances the reading material without taking away the importance of the material.
Every library, whether it be public, school, classroom or home deserves to host this title as it will inform the reader, and offer hope for the future of us all living together harmoniously here on Earth.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Thanks to Edelweiss for the digital ARC to read and review.
Read more about Crossings in my blog! www.teacherlibrarianconnections.com
January 5, 2021
With the refrain, "Over, under, across and through", used several times in the text, youngsters will be joining in to recite the phrase when the text is read aloud to them.
As a sign of kindness and nod to conservation, architects and others have built constructions to rejoin wild areas that have been bisected or otherwise altered by many of mankind's construction projects (often roads). As a result, the animals have a "new normal" to move safely from one place to another.
Duffield's main text (in a larger font) beautifully captures the dangers that mankind has left for the wild animals in the past and the boon of the alternatives built for them. Her words carry just enough information to answer youngster's questions. Each construction has a brief paragraph explaining how the construction has improved the lives of these animals.
Mike Orodán's graphite pencil and digital illustrations are stunning in their color and compositions. The animals exhibit emotions, without making them anthropomorphic. For example, the fear of the logging trucks by the loggers is palpable on the mother orangutan. With a color palette that is bold and bright and by adding great detail, each 2-page illustration is well-worth the study of them.
In the back is a world map showing the location of many of the animals featured in the book, with a statement about how each has been saved from being endangered or extinction.
Highly Recommended for grade PreS-3.
As a sign of kindness and nod to conservation, architects and others have built constructions to rejoin wild areas that have been bisected or otherwise altered by many of mankind's construction projects (often roads). As a result, the animals have a "new normal" to move safely from one place to another.
Duffield's main text (in a larger font) beautifully captures the dangers that mankind has left for the wild animals in the past and the boon of the alternatives built for them. Her words carry just enough information to answer youngster's questions. Each construction has a brief paragraph explaining how the construction has improved the lives of these animals.
Mike Orodán's graphite pencil and digital illustrations are stunning in their color and compositions. The animals exhibit emotions, without making them anthropomorphic. For example, the fear of the logging trucks by the loggers is palpable on the mother orangutan. With a color palette that is bold and bright and by adding great detail, each 2-page illustration is well-worth the study of them.
In the back is a world map showing the location of many of the animals featured in the book, with a statement about how each has been saved from being endangered or extinction.
Highly Recommended for grade PreS-3.
November 2, 2021
This oversized and evocatively illustrated book uses the repeating refrain, "Over, under, across, through" to launch passages that first describe the ways human technology, engineering, and expansion have extended our sprawl throughout nature.
Next lines begin with... "What happens..." to the animals and their potential for survival. Will the physical structures, vehicles, and power sources kill them directly? Will the lack of habitat and access to safe movement destroy countless centuries of instincts and behavioral drives?
What follows those challenging scenes is an appreciative look at human efforts to transform our capacity for construction and innovations to create movement options for creatures-- over, under, across, and through-- barriers and dangers. Examples include animals as small as baby turtles to those as large as elk and elephants. With global examples that allow safe travel through treetops, under tunnels, and across multi-lane highways, readers encounter "living proof that opening our minds and hearts can make all the difference." Small information inserts on expansive and colorful pages enhance factual content, with each illustrated spread briefly identified for location and purpose in the final two pages.
Next lines begin with... "What happens..." to the animals and their potential for survival. Will the physical structures, vehicles, and power sources kill them directly? Will the lack of habitat and access to safe movement destroy countless centuries of instincts and behavioral drives?
What follows those challenging scenes is an appreciative look at human efforts to transform our capacity for construction and innovations to create movement options for creatures-- over, under, across, and through-- barriers and dangers. Examples include animals as small as baby turtles to those as large as elk and elephants. With global examples that allow safe travel through treetops, under tunnels, and across multi-lane highways, readers encounter "living proof that opening our minds and hearts can make all the difference." Small information inserts on expansive and colorful pages enhance factual content, with each illustrated spread briefly identified for location and purpose in the final two pages.
December 10, 2020
This is a very inspiring story of what is being done to help animals survive in a world filled with development that is threatening their habitat. All throughout the world, there are highways, roads, and bridges that are endangering the animals that live in that area. Animal advocates worked together to see what could be done about this. The answer, create structures that would allow animals to safely cross over or under populated areas. This book features structures that have been created all over the world for animals to use. This includes a highway underpass in Mount Kenya that united two groups of elephants, rope bridges over the Hume Highway in Australia to help squirrel gliders safely cross, and a small passage under a road in Amherst Massachusetts used by spotted salamanders.
The illustrations provided by Mike Orodán really aid in the understanding of how these crossings help animals. Readers can clearly see how these different structures work with the animals and the surrounding structures.
The illustrations provided by Mike Orodán really aid in the understanding of how these crossings help animals. Readers can clearly see how these different structures work with the animals and the surrounding structures.
March 5, 2021
In a recent presentation from an award-winning nonfiction writer (Melissa Stewart) for young people, she had recommended this book in a discussion about the types of nonfiction for young people. I quickly borrowed the book and am enamored with the quality of the artwork and the quiet storytelling.
Without explaining it, Duffield captures the encroachment of man on animal habitats. And while not demonizing them, it does give a reader pause. But the approach is that innovation can break down the barriers and build animal populations back. Structural engineering is the way to go and biologists can then find ways to entice the animals to use the crossings which then become animal thoroughfares.
Duffield uses the examples with a small text feature while leaving the storytelling like a fictional picture book, but everything is true. It's captivating and provides hope for humanity yet that what we are destroying we can rebuild in some fashion (and learn from the mistakes to maybe NOT do what was done in the past).
Without explaining it, Duffield captures the encroachment of man on animal habitats. And while not demonizing them, it does give a reader pause. But the approach is that innovation can break down the barriers and build animal populations back. Structural engineering is the way to go and biologists can then find ways to entice the animals to use the crossings which then become animal thoroughfares.
Duffield uses the examples with a small text feature while leaving the storytelling like a fictional picture book, but everything is true. It's captivating and provides hope for humanity yet that what we are destroying we can rebuild in some fashion (and learn from the mistakes to maybe NOT do what was done in the past).
March 4, 2021
Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals brings to light the efforts being made by wildlife-lovers across the world to help animals safely travel across our increasingly urban world. Written by Katy S. Duffield, Crossings is unlike any children’s book I’ve read in that I had little to no idea about its subject matter. From elephant underpasses in Kenya to woven rope bridges for squirrels in Australia,
Duffield illustrates several ingenious ‘wildlife crossings’ put up all over the world. The writing is surprisingly lyrical for a children’s book, with interesting vocabulary used throughout, and the full-page illustrations done by Mike Orodan are beautiful. In addition, each page consists of an interesting fact that complements the topic well and a summary page provides a useful synopsis while also adding additional information. As easy to read as it is to recommend, Crossings is perfect for young nature enthusiasts.
Duffield illustrates several ingenious ‘wildlife crossings’ put up all over the world. The writing is surprisingly lyrical for a children’s book, with interesting vocabulary used throughout, and the full-page illustrations done by Mike Orodan are beautiful. In addition, each page consists of an interesting fact that complements the topic well and a summary page provides a useful synopsis while also adding additional information. As easy to read as it is to recommend, Crossings is perfect for young nature enthusiasts.
November 17, 2020
This is a visually awesome picture book that looks at a problem -- modern construction, especially roads and highways, carve up the territories that are a part of animals' habitats, and then shows the solutions put in place across a bunch of different countries. The illustrations are colorful and charming (if a bit muted? gentle? not garish? I need a better art vocabulary!) and arranged for reader flow. Some pages consist of several small pictures showing OVER UNDER ACROSS and THROUGH, others span the entire spread of the book. Large print sentences give a simple explanation, and then smaller type blurbs give more detail of the location and the purpose of the structure the animals are using.
The back matter has even more detail as well as a bibliography/further resource list, and an optimistic thought that people can fix problems, even problems we cause!
The back matter has even more detail as well as a bibliography/further resource list, and an optimistic thought that people can fix problems, even problems we cause!
January 13, 2021
All across the world people are building structures that go over, under, across, and through to help wild animals travel more safely. I had heard of the red crabs on Christmas Island and spotted salamanders in Massachusetts. But did not know there were so many different species in so many different places being helped to survive by amazing structures. Nor the amount of care and research that goes into each design and location. The book is very accessible for younger kids. It will challenge them to see a problem (animals being killed because they can't get to where they want/need to go without crossing a road) and come up with solutions.
There are lots of great illustrations and just the right amount of information about each animal and structure. A bit more information and a list of sources is included at the end.
There are lots of great illustrations and just the right amount of information about each animal and structure. A bit more information and a list of sources is included at the end.
February 12, 2022
Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals brings activism alive for young children. The simple text about structures built to help animals cross roadways is a great way to show how we can start to counter the destruction of habitat that comes with human development. The theme of “over, under, across, and through” carries the text around the world to a dozen different examples of animals using these structures. Each page also includes a more information about the specific structure depicted on the page. Mike Orodan’s illustrations place the animals front and center in this picture book. And the
This would be a great read aloud for kindergarteners as they explore building with different materials. The language of “over, above, across, and through” is perfect for this age. Students would have fun designing crossings for a variety of animals.
This would be a great read aloud for kindergarteners as they explore building with different materials. The language of “over, above, across, and through” is perfect for this age. Students would have fun designing crossings for a variety of animals.
February 23, 2021
I love the topic as well as the illustrations!
Animals are affected by more and more "built environments" in their natural habitats like structures, highways, and roads. But animal lovers around the world have come up with clever solutions to this problem. Animals can now travel safely from one part of their habitat to another using underpasses, overpasses, and bridges designed just for them! Back matter holds: Wildlife Crossings Around the World and Selected bibliography and further reading. Crossings is definitely a book to add to home, classroom, or library collection! Another great book published by Beach Lane Books!
I love the opening: "Over, under, across, through. Around the world, construction crews build overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels- ways for people to get from one place to another. But what about animals that live in these places?"
Animals are affected by more and more "built environments" in their natural habitats like structures, highways, and roads. But animal lovers around the world have come up with clever solutions to this problem. Animals can now travel safely from one part of their habitat to another using underpasses, overpasses, and bridges designed just for them! Back matter holds: Wildlife Crossings Around the World and Selected bibliography and further reading. Crossings is definitely a book to add to home, classroom, or library collection! Another great book published by Beach Lane Books!
I love the opening: "Over, under, across, through. Around the world, construction crews build overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels- ways for people to get from one place to another. But what about animals that live in these places?"
February 22, 2021
What a fantastic book! Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals tells the story of man-made structures that help to save animals - to keep them near their habitats, in connection with other animals, to prevent them from harm. The text is simple, easy enough for a storytime read, but there is a lot here to unpack. As you start reading about different crossings there is longer, factual information about each crossing. The illustrations are gorgeous, done in graphite pencil and Photoshop. They really capture the animals, the structure and design. There's additional reading in the the back and, my favorite, a bibliography!! I just loved this and have it in mind for a storytime.
March 11, 2022
OKAY. First and foremost, I need to say: the illustrations in this book are BEAUTIFUL. Often, I note when styles are different, unique, and/or interesting. But this style is by far one of the most beautiful styles I've seen in years. Highly recommend just for that. But the information in this book is really cool too! I've heard of animal crossing structures, but I didn't realize there were so many already built around the world... Kenya, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and more?! So cool. Often you hear stories of how humans are ransacking the environment and hindering animal populations. This book was so refreshing -- reminding us that there are people out there making a different. And if we seek awareness and action, we can too. Highly recommend.
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