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National Geographic Readers: Level 3
Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys
Every year like clockwork, animals both big and small are driven by a natural instinct to move, in order to survive. On both land and sea, they fight the odds and the forces of nature to breed, feed, or lead and carry on for future generations. This reader is an introduction to the treacherous trek of the zebra, walrus, and Christmas Island red crab to overcome obstacles that include hungry cheetahs, stinging yellow crazy ants, and even their fellow species to make the often impossible journey of their lives.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
48 pages, Library Binding
First published October 12, 2010
7 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 9, 2021
So yes, with regard to providing a simple but solidly informative introduction to three animal species that engage in yearly migrations (zebras, red crabs and walruses), author Laura Marsh has certainly done a very admirable job with her Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys, textually showing why zebras, red crabs and walruses need to migrate, the both natural and human instigated dangers they tend to face during their journeys and also what is being done by us, by humans to try to mitigate the threats that are being caused by us, such as for example keeping domestic cattle away from the zebras’ precious watering holes by means of fences, closing some roads in Australia to all vehicle traffic during red crab migration season and at least being aware of and not denying the fact that walruses are finding it increasingly difficult to locate adequate food supplies due to global warming (all penned engagingly and educationally by Laura Marsh with just enough information and details for level three, for independently reading children to be sufficiently enlightened but also with not too much textual density and thankfully no overwhelming scientific jargon).
Graced by many colour photographs, Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys is in my opinion a solid and educational (as well as also thought provoking) four star book for the intended age group, for the independently reading children mentioned above (from about the age of seven to nine), although part of me does wish that Laura Marsh would also mention that there are indeed many species of animals aside from zebras, red crabs and walruses which migrate, which engage in both long and short journeys. And well, the only reason why I am lowering my star rating from four to three stars is that I do find it a huge academic shortcoming that Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys does not include a bibliography, something that seems to be common with National Geographic, but something that really does bother me with regard to non fiction books for children, and especially for children reading on their own (and no, just providing an index and a glossary is in my opinion rather insufficient, as in my humble opinion there should be in Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys an acknowledgment of the author’s sources as well as suggestions for further reading and study).
Graced by many colour photographs, Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys is in my opinion a solid and educational (as well as also thought provoking) four star book for the intended age group, for the independently reading children mentioned above (from about the age of seven to nine), although part of me does wish that Laura Marsh would also mention that there are indeed many species of animals aside from zebras, red crabs and walruses which migrate, which engage in both long and short journeys. And well, the only reason why I am lowering my star rating from four to three stars is that I do find it a huge academic shortcoming that Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys does not include a bibliography, something that seems to be common with National Geographic, but something that really does bother me with regard to non fiction books for children, and especially for children reading on their own (and no, just providing an index and a glossary is in my opinion rather insufficient, as in my humble opinion there should be in Great Migrations: Amazing Animal Journeys an acknowledgment of the author’s sources as well as suggestions for further reading and study).
April 23, 2020
Amazing Animal Journeys introduces the term migration, and then continues to explain it. The book provides examples of animals who migrate and where they go. It is very informative, discussing zebras, crabs, and walruses. It discusses challenges they may face, all to successfully migrate so they can continue surviving and reproducing.
The book has real photographs of the species. The text is all in front of yellow backgrounds, so it sticks out and draws your attention. There are some typical elements of non-fiction books, such as word definition boxes and diagrams.
I gave this book 4 stars. It provides a ton of information. It would be great for a science class that is discussing migration. I also like that it chose to focus on three very different species. The pictures were also really great, and I love that they are real photographs, and not just drawings.
The book has real photographs of the species. The text is all in front of yellow backgrounds, so it sticks out and draws your attention. There are some typical elements of non-fiction books, such as word definition boxes and diagrams.
I gave this book 4 stars. It provides a ton of information. It would be great for a science class that is discussing migration. I also like that it chose to focus on three very different species. The pictures were also really great, and I love that they are real photographs, and not just drawings.
December 9, 2018
Very informative book about Zebras, Crabs, and Walruses. As always, the little jokes appear in corners. This book has a lot of good information (I had no ideas that Zebras were actually black skinned and that the white is fur!) Although a kid would need more information for a science report, this is a good beginning and a way to pique their interest.
April 7, 2025
3.25 stars
I read this book with my little brother. It's fun and the images are cool. Yeah... it's a book for kids, idk what else to say other than that it serves its purpose of being entertaining education.
I read this book with my little brother. It's fun and the images are cool. Yeah... it's a book for kids, idk what else to say other than that it serves its purpose of being entertaining education.
August 15, 2017
Great book about animals
October 17, 2018
Simply amazing. Too short.
January 2, 2019
I really liked this informative piece. Although I will say it's slightly misleading. It really only covers one species in depth and then a little bit about another few.
November 10, 2018
Summary:
This describes and how zebras, red crab, and walruses migrate. The book tells where they migrate, how they migrate, and why they migrate. The book provides a photographs and maps to show how these animals migrations look.
Evaluation:
This is a great level 3 non-fiction book! Beautiful photographs! Any kid who loves animals would enjoy learning to read with this book. Great book for every elementary school teacher's library.
Teaching idea:
This would be a great book to include in a text set during a unit on animal adaptations. I would use determining importance as my comprehension strategy and ask students "why do these animals migrate?" This would also be good book to teach text featues as it has a glossary, index, maps, and table of contents.
This describes and how zebras, red crab, and walruses migrate. The book tells where they migrate, how they migrate, and why they migrate. The book provides a photographs and maps to show how these animals migrations look.
Evaluation:
This is a great level 3 non-fiction book! Beautiful photographs! Any kid who loves animals would enjoy learning to read with this book. Great book for every elementary school teacher's library.
Teaching idea:
This would be a great book to include in a text set during a unit on animal adaptations. I would use determining importance as my comprehension strategy and ask students "why do these animals migrate?" This would also be good book to teach text featues as it has a glossary, index, maps, and table of contents.
September 23, 2013
Read by: Mary
Author: Laura Marsh
Genre: Informational
Interest Level: 4-6
Grade level Equivalent: 4.3
Lexile Measure®: 810L
This book is about the migration of three different animals; the zebra, the red crab, and the walrus. Each animal has its own section, where each section gives different details and information on the animals. This is a good resource to use for comparing and showing differences and likenesses by using the different animal migration patterns.
Author: Laura Marsh
Genre: Informational
Interest Level: 4-6
Grade level Equivalent: 4.3
Lexile Measure®: 810L
This book is about the migration of three different animals; the zebra, the red crab, and the walrus. Each animal has its own section, where each section gives different details and information on the animals. This is a good resource to use for comparing and showing differences and likenesses by using the different animal migration patterns.
November 6, 2015
Great books - high interest, easy to break into smaller pieces to use with teaching points, or small group work. Third graders will love it! It also offers 3 cases of animals in trouble, 2 humans have been able to help with their struggles to migrate and survive, but the third we haven't. It leaves the kids questioning what they can do to help.
April 30, 2016
Okay
My daughter loves the jokes that are in the book. She is in 2nd grade and we read a lot. Unfortunately, the jokes are so intertwining that it takes away from her reading focus... The reason for four stars.
My daughter loves the jokes that are in the book. She is in 2nd grade and we read a lot. Unfortunately, the jokes are so intertwining that it takes away from her reading focus... The reason for four stars.
November 25, 2013
11/25/13
June 23, 2015
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.or
July 23, 2015
Nathan loved hearing about the zebras and the walruses, but not so much for the red crabs.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews