Migrant
Author: Maxine Trottier
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2011
Genre: fiction
Themes: migrant workers, siblings, imagination
Age Level: 4-7
Opening: There are times when Anna feels like a bird. It is the birds, after all, that fly north in the spring and south every fall, chasing the sun, following the warmth.
Synopsis: This is the story of Anna and her family, Mennonite migrant workers from Mexico who must travel north each year to work in Canada.
I follow this fabulous illustrator’s work, but the theme is intriguing for a picture book. It is beautiful, and would be a great addition to the classroom.
Resource Link:From Teaching Tolerance: “dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children.”
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julie rowan-zoch 
The cover makes me want to read this. I appreciate you sharing this topic. There are many migrant works in my larger town and in the town I grew up in. My son was born in a border (Tex-Mex) town. This might be a good way to introduce this topic. It’s above his age range now, but we’ll check it out and take a look.
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Enjoy!
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Oh what a great book for Canadians to appreciate migrant workers. There are tonnes of migrant mexicans here and feelings are mixed. But they do do some things that give them a very bad name too. I ‘ll have to get this one, thanks Julie!
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I had no idea about the distances people travel to work – amazing!
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This is a fascinating subject for a picture book. Honestly I had no idea there were Mennonite migrant workers.
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Me neither. Books like this will inspire us to look at topics otherwise deemed beyond the comprehension of younger children.
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What a unique and intriguing topic for a picture book. Thank you for sharing!
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I know you’ll like it Beth.
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Whoa, the cover. Gorgeous.
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Please check out the illustrator’s other books – magnifique!
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That is an incredible distance to travel to work – I had no idea. Your book choice sounds lovely, looking forward to reading it!
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And somedays I can find it tough to turn the computer on to go to work. Count my blessings!
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Julie I loved this book. You won’t believe this, but I reviewed it and scheduled it for June — will run my review next fall or later as a post. Glad you shared it! I know a a lot about migrant workers, but nothing about the Low German Mennonites that migrate from Mexico back to Canada every year. Did some research and learned a lot. Liked your activity. I had a hard time coming up with one — now I won’t have to. 🙂
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Of course great minds think alike! I am actually in awe of how thoughts collide, especially in art and design. Joining 12×12 I realized I was out of the loop – everyone had a website/blog. I whipped up a logo for a FB page where I could also direct others called Picture Book Junkie. Almost the same day another designer saw it and directed me to the website for Picture Book Junkies, and believe it or not the logo was almost identical to mine! I look forward to your post! I tend to keep mine very short so I wonder what you see in the book that I did not. Exciting!
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I was thinking the same thing. I rescheduled mine to run in September when the migration home begins. I loved the book!
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This book sounds like it would help older kids and adults understand Mennonite Migrant Workers and younger kids will probably like the illustrations and the story. I would like to read this book.
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I’m so glad!
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Like Stacy said, I was immediately drawn to the cover art of this book. Your review makes me want to read it even more!
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And I try to keep reviews to a minimum, so I greatly appreciate your comment!
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What a great topic for a picture book. It’s a good way to help kids understand what people do to work and survive, it’s not always hop in the SUV and commute to the office. Thank you!
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Yeah!
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Julie…what an amazing book for children and adults! Thank you for sharing it with us…a topic not often addressed in schools or homes, the children of migrant workers must adjust to different schools or no schools and a life on the move. Perfect Picture Book Friday has me thinking I need to clear off a bookcase of shelves to fill with the ones I read reviews of each week. 🙂
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I wish I had the kid of bookshelf space that would take!
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What a beautiful cover. I agree with other commenters that this is a wonderful topic for a picture book.
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Oui, oui Penny!
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