SUN BIRD

Text and pictures soar in this view of the longest annual migration in the natural world.

With contagious wonder and a memorable observation that the Arctic tern sees more sunlight than any other creature, Moore retraces the long yearly journey of small birds “no heavier / than a handful of sand” from Arctic summer waters to Antarctic ones. There, she writes, they molt and feed on krill along with the local minke whales before seasons change and they begin their flights back north to nest. In luminous watercolors, she begins with a nesting pair who feed small fish to hatchlings and courageously gather with other adults to drive away predators, from ravens to a “fierce and hungry” polar bear. Later they share the sea’s “fall feast” with puffins, fly with migratory flamingos, rest for a time in midocean atop a sea turtle, then continue to follow the sun on their southward flight over the mountains of Patagonia and on to the Weddell Sea. The author adds further facts about these birds and their “epic migration” at the end, plus a world map that shows routes and other useful information. Just as immersive as her Sea Bear (2019), this outing is sure to leave budding naturalists enthralled and impressed.

Natural science at its most visually and verbally lyrical.