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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Named Luck by the girl who rescues him from a six-pack holder in the Texas marsh, a young sandhill crane is able to begin the long migration north to Siberia with his parents. Though the birds depend on natural landmarks to find their way, Luck also memorizes human evidence, including the girl's blue sunglasses,that will ultimately bring him back to his home, along with his new mate. Detailed artwork gives readers a crane's eye view of the landscape, as well as breathtaking glimpses of these fascinating birds in flight. The story unfolds with humor and awe at the miraculous journey these creatures undertake, while providing an instructive exploration of migration patterns, animal conservation and the human-wildlife connection.

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  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Every year as many as half-a-million Sand Hill cranes make a famous migration north from Texas, along the Platte River to Canada, Alaska, and destinations as far away as Siberia. Wendell Minor's well-modulated narration gives a fictionalized account of that spectacular event through the experience of a crane named Luck. Music accompanies the entire story, and sound effects bring the story to life: the unusual crane voices, wings flapping, and noises of whatever is happening below the birds in flight. The slow pace seems designed for the young listener to enjoy Minor's double-page illustrations in the accompanying book. These splendid pictures let the listener see the world of this perilous journey from the bird's-eye view. R.H.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from May 1, 2006
      In impressive harmony, Newbery Medalist George's (Julie of the Wolves
      ) lilting narrative and Minor's (Yankee Doodle America
      ) stunning paintings follow the year-long, round-trip journey of a young sandhill crane who migrates north to his nesting grounds. The tale opens in a Texas marsh, where a girl removes a plastic six-pack holder encircling the crane's neck. She names the bird Luck, and watches as he flies off with his parents. Memorizing landmarks below to help them navigate their way back, the family soars north and is joined along the way by 500,000 other cranes, "their voices like wind trumpets, swelling to a choir and then to a symphony." The "crackaarr
      " of Luck's voice acts as a tracking signal for his parents. During his extended, dramatic passage, Luck becomes separated from and then reunited with his parents. He flies with them over the Bering Strait to Siberia, where he was born; finds a mate named Wise and, with her, "danced and composed their own song." At long last they find their way back to the waiting girl who had rescued Luck a year earlier, and she watches the two cranes spread their wings in a dance together. Minor depicts the graceful birds with his usual meticulous attention to detail, while his landscapes—notably several portraying the crane-filled sky at brilliant sunset—and intriguing bird's-eye-views of the expanses both above and below are breathtaking. A rewarding and uplifting flight. Ages 4-7.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:610
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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