Circle
Age 5+
Wildlife
In an infinity of sky, tiny godwit birds follow ancient, invisible migratory pathways, flying on and on for nine nights and nine days, flying without rest… This is their story.
From the creator of the critically acclaimed Where the Forest Meets the Sea and Mirror, comes a poetic, eco-conscious picture book which explores the complex, interdependency of nature. This is the story of the little-known Bar-tailed Godwit who, following invisible pathways that have been used for thousands of years, undertakes the longest unbroken migration of any bird, a total of 11,000 kilometres, flying from their breeding grounds in Alaska across the Pacific Ocean to Australia or New Zealand. Facing hunger and treacherous conditions to reach their destination, their flight is one of bravery, tenacity and strength, and Jeannie’s stunning mixed media collages, inspired first-hand by the spectacular landscapes of Alaska and China, will amaze readers, and take them on an extraordinary visual journey to the corners of our Earth.
Resources
Creators
Jeannie Baker is the author and illustrator of a number of children's picture books, including the award-winning Where the Forest Meets the Sea and the critically acclaimed dual language picture book Mirror. Her characteristic use of mixed media to create detailed and elaborate collages is stunning and unique. Originally from the UK, Jeannie lives in Australia. Find Jeannie online at www.jeanniebaker.com.
Reviews
Mention
Radio NZ
Best Books for Christmas
North and South magazine
50 Best Books for Kids 2016
NZ Listener
Like all Jeanie Baker books, this is stunning. From its turquoise, green, grey, orange and white cover all the way through the artwork is brilliant with colour. You feel like you could reach out and touch the sea anemones and sea life in their mauve, green and yellow.
Goodreads
Baker constructed her collages from materials she collected while tracing the godwits’ migratory trek. This attention to visual detail, and the way Baker shows us things from different perspectives, combined with the important theme of the book all contribute to Circle being what I consider a masterpiece. The stunning illustrations and the amazing story of the godwits’ migration will certainly kindle children’s imaginations.
Book Chook