Title: Journey of the Humpbacks
Author: Juliana Muñoz Toro
Illustrator: Dipacho
Publisher/Year: Eerdmans BYR/2025 (originally published in Columbia in 2020)
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Journey of the Humpbacks is a nonfiction picture book overflowing with fascinating facts about the amazing humpback whale. Intriguing infographics and colorful mixed media illustrations, combined with blocks of accessibly written text, dance across the pages like whales bobbing, leaping, and twirling through the ocean. This inviting book earned a Star from Kirkus Reviews.
Younger children will likely delight in the pictures of whales, penguins, people, boats, and forests, while older kids and adults will appreciate learning all about humpbacks. Readers will discover when and where they migrate, what they look like compared to other whales, what they eat, how they communicate, how much a newborn calf weighs, and so much more.
One of my favorite facts is that humpbacks have the longest pectoral fins (the fins located on each side) of any type of whale. These fins can measure up to almost 20 feet long and are often compared to wings.
Part of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series, Journey of the Humpbacks is a great choice for anyone who loves whales!
Humpback whales are known for their unique vocalizations, but it’s only the adult males who “sing” to communicate, and they do this by causing air to vibrate inside their bodies. In contrast, females and their calves communicate using low frequency “whispers”.
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