Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Little Brown & Co, 1994
ISBN: 0-316-57380-9(hardbound)
ISBN: 0-316-57174-1(paperback)
Ages 7 and up
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
1995 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association and Children's Book Council
"A detailed, richly illustrated title. Miller is a natural storyteller and expertly interweaves facts into her narrative. Van Zyle's dramatic paintings...vividly portray seasonal changes in the land and life cycle of the caribou...An exceptional source of information and an outstanding picture book."
- School Library Journal, starred review
"The focus is on the experiences of a mother and her yearling and newborn, as caribou activities are described. Dramatic depictions of their search for food, escapes from attacking eagles and tormenting mosquitoes, and the perils of migrating bring an immediacy to the description of their daily lives. The vividly presented information is enhanced by acrylic paintings."
- Horn Book, Inc.
"...Miller provides information in the text that goes well beyond the picturesque. For example, an illustration showing the caribou mother jumping in alarm is accompanied by text explaining the concurrent release of a strong scent from the animal's hoof glands -- the literal "smell of danger." The oil paintings provide background vistas that will give the book appeal for very young nature enthusiasts."
- Booklist
CREATING THE BOOK:
Over the years our family has observed caribou in many areas of Alaska. A Caribou Journey is based our experiences observing the 129,000-member Porcupine caribou herd within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR. This huge herd migrates back and forth between Alaska and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. They often cross the Porcupine River when they migrate, so they are named after the river, not because they resemble porcupines!
One summer day on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, Dennis and I shared the greatest wildlife spectacle of our lives. We looked over our shoulders and spotted 30,000 to 40,000 caribou marching right toward us! Soon the caribou were swarming around us, grunting and bleating, thousands of mothers, little calves and regal bulls. There were so many caribou covering the tundra that it looked like the earth was moving! They swam across the river directly in front of us.
This is one of the many scenes that became a part of A Caribou Journey. We've been fortunate to see caribou mothers nurture their calves, run from predators, escape from mosquitos, climb over mountain passes, and swim across swift rivers. All of these experiences are first documented in my journal, and then I do additional scientific research when I get home.
I wrote A Caribou Journey because of our daughter, Robin. When she was five, she wanted to learn more about caribou. We tried to find a book in the library that told the life cycle story of the caribou, but couldn't find an appropriate book for her age. This inspired me to write my own book based on our experiences.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that....
*More caribou live in Alaska than people! There are 32 caribou herds that roam across Alaska, nearly a million animals! Alaska currently has a population of about 600,000 people. Most of them live in our few big cities such as Anchorage and Fairbanks.
*Caribou and reindeer are the only deer in the world where the females grow antlers every year, just like the males.
*Caribou travel farther each year than all other land mammals in the world, nearly 3,000 miles.
*When caribou walk their hooves click like castanets. The sound is caused by tendons slipping over joints inside the caribou's hooves.
Debbie S. Miller
It's
in Fairbanks, Alaska