Caribou Journey - A

by Miller, Debbie S.

Van Zyle, Jon (Illustrator)

An imposing line of caribou stretches for miles across the frozen tundra of Alaska. The sound of clicking hooves echoes through the air as the herd follows its centuries-old migration route. With their thick coats and their padded, shovel-like hooves, caribou are ideally adapted to their snowbound environment, and this lively children’s book explores their habits and habitat—as well as the dangers that await the young and old—along this ancient trail. Writer Debbie S. Miller and artist Jon Van Zyle are keen naturalists and the premier duo in Alaska children’s literature, and this beautifully illustrated appreciation of the caribou—now back in print—brings this stately mammal alluringly to life.

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