Akpa's Journey - by Mia Pelletier (Hardcover)

About the Book

Akpa, a thick-billed murre, emerges from his egg, high on an Arctic cliff and learns that he must embark on a long migration before he is able to fly.

Book Synopsis

After thick-billed murre Akpa emerges from his egg, high on an Arctic cliff, he soon learns that he must embark on a long migration before he is even able to fly. Flinging himself into the icy water with his father to guide him, Akpa must swim 1,000 kilometres of his journey south before he is able to finally fly the final leg of his journey. Adult male murres are also unable to fly during this time of the year, due to their changing feathers, so father and son must navigate south on the choppy ocean waves, meeting new and unfamiliar creatures along the way.

Review Quotes

"This relatively unknown migration will fascinate readers who are mature enough to sit through the rather lengthy text, and the language will captivate...Readers will not want to miss this migration story."--Kirkus

" [A]n incredible journey"--Publishers Weekly

"Bird lovers will be thrilled as they follow the incredible 1,000-kilometre journey that the Arctic murre makes yearly from the icy waters of Nunavut."--The Globe and Mail

"The story is laced with kernels of truth and gorgeous prose, making this beautiful tale perfect for grandparents, parents, and educators to share with young children ages six to ten. Youth will savor the detailed, realistic illustrations. They'll aid them in joining Akpa on his amazing and enlightening journey."--Seattle Book Review

"Akpa's Journey is an inspiring story about an incredible species with universal themes about perseverance and the love and dedication of parents."--Hakai Magazine

"Akpa's Journey is the perfect combination: a story told about an Arctic animal by an author who clearly has the knowledge and the passion to tell the story, illustrated by an artist with the skill to bring that story to life for young readers everywhere...Highly Recommended"--CM: Canadian Review of Materials

About the Author

Mia Pelletier grew up exploring the lakes and forests of the Canadian Shield. Drawn to shorelines and wild places, Mia studied ecology and lived in California and the Magdalen Islands before moving to Baffin Island, Nunavut, in 2010. In Nunavut, she works with Arctic seabirds and with Inuit on the co-management of protected areas. Mia enjoys exploring the Arctic tundra and learning about the fascinating plants, animals, and people that call this region home.

Kagan McLeod has been illustrating for magazines, newspapers, and design firms since 1999, after graduating from Sheridan College's illustration program. He began work as a staff artist for the National Post newspaper, and has had illustration work published recently in Entertainment Weekly, Reader's Digest, The Walrus, The Wall Street Journal, Toronto Life, The Boston Globe, and Popular Mechanics. His first graphic novel, Infinite Kung-Fu, was published in 2012. He lives in Toronto with his wife, two daughters, and a hound dog.