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The migrants must leave the forest. Borders are crossed, sacrifices made, loved ones are lost. It takes such courage to reach the end. At last the journey is over and the migrants arrive. This is the new place.
With forceful simplicity, Migrants narrates the journey of a group of animals leaving a leafless forest. Borders must be crossed, sacrifices made, loved ones left behind.
Peruvian artist Watanabe creates a story about a group of animal migrants who trudge through a dark forest, carrying their belongings in bundles. A fox, several rabbits, an alligator, a mandrill, an elephant, and more make the trip upright, wearing street clothes. They're trailed by Death, a slight, almost apologetic figure with a skull for a head and wearing a magnificent flowered robe. The animals move through a forest of silvery, leafless trees toward the ocean, where a boat awaits, and crowd into it. Death follows, flying on a blue ibis. The waves tear the boat apart; when the animals gain the far shore, they realize that one of their number has died, and they gather around the body. When they arrive at last in a place where the trees bear green leaves and flowers, there's no rejoicing, just puzzled exhaustion. Context-setting will be needed for children unfamiliar with the plight of present-day migrants, but Watanabe captures with grace both dignity and determination, and the brilliance of her art's hues against a velvety black backdrop gives the somber spreads great visual power. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)
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