Journey of the Humpbacks

by Juliana Muñoz Toro, . Dipacho (Illustrator), Lawrence Schimel (Translator)

Overview

"Extraordinary...An unforgettable encounter that will spark a lifelong fascination." — Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)

The amazing migration of humpback whales, explored through lyrical language, fascinating infographics, and colorful art.

Come meet the humpback whales: we’ll travel with them from the Antarctic to the Colombian Pacific, back where they were born. Let’s learn about how their fins help them swim, how long they can live, why and how they sing, how their calves grow up, and how they fit into the baleen whale family. As we migrate with these marine mammals, we’ll discover the joy of sharing our planet with these incredible creatures. 

Created in collaboration with humpback whale researchers, this browsable book welcomes readers to follow the animals for their full adventure or enjoy a few intriguing facts along the way. Journey of the Humpbacks is the perfect read for aspiring marine biologists, avid whale-watchers, and anyone who’s ever dreamed of diving beneath the waves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802856432
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	09/16/2025
Series:	Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers (SSCR)
Pages:	44
Product dimensions:	9.88(w) x 11.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 14 Years

About the Author

Juliana Muñoz Toro is a writer and story embroiderer based in Bogotá, Colombia. The Humpbacks’ Journey, her English-language debut, was the winner of the 2021 Banco del Libro Award in the Informative Books category, and it was also selected for the “Reading Colombia” catalog in 2022. Visit Juliana’s blog at julianamunoztoro.wordpress.com and follow her on Instagram @julianadelaurel.

Dipacho (the pseudonym of Diego Francisco Sanchez Rodriguez) is the award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Some Do, Some Don’t and Antonia: A Journey to a New Home (minedition). His titles have been published across Latin America as well as in Italy, Portugal, and France.  Dipacho lives in Colombia. Visit his website at dipacho.com or follow him on Instagram @dipacho.

Lawrence Schimel has written or translated over 300 books, including Niños, 9 Kilometers, and the Batchelder Honor Book Different (all Eerdmans). His works have received many awards, including three PEN Translates Awards, two SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards, and two Américas Award Honors. Lawrence lives in Madrid, Spain. Follow him on Bluesky @lawrenceschimel.bksy.social.

Editorial Reviews

"A beautiful ode to one of the earth’s most majestic creatures." — Lori Sieling, Words Without Borders

"Gorgeous, thoroughly engaging, and in-depth...Lyrical, fact-filled, and kid-oriented." — Booklist

"Extraordinary...Dipacho’s artwork creates moments of visual poetry...Even readers initially indifferent to marine life will find themselves captivated by these creatures...This is not a book to rush through, but rather one to return to repeatedly, as each reading reveals more layers about migration patterns, whale behavior, and marine ecosystems...An unforgettable encounter that will spark a lifelong fascination with these extraordinary beings." — Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)

From the Publisher

★ 2025-07-19
An extraordinary collaboration that follows the epic migration of humpback whales.

Originally published in Colombia, this work follows the marine mammals on their 8,300-kilometer (5,150-mile) journey from Antarctica’s Gerlache Strait to the Pacific coast of Colombia. Muñoz Toro and Dipacho worked with several whale researchers to ensure scientific accuracy while maintaining the story’s narrative appeal. The text weaves factual information with storytelling elements, using analogies to make complex science accessible to young readers; whales preparing for migration are described as “packing a suitcase,” while their communication is compared to an “oceanic voice that’s intermittent, like the light from a lighthouse blinking in the dark.” Dipacho’s artwork creates moments of visual poetry, from a close-up of a whale tinged with deep blues to striking black pages depicting a whale’s death. Muñoz Toro acknowledges the limits of human knowledge with refreshing honesty, noting that “very little is known about the mating behavior of humpback whales” because “it happens very quickly,” while males may sing elaborate songs “perhaps just because they can.” Even readers initially indifferent to marine life will find themselves captivated by these creatures, whose epic journeys mirror our own need for home and connection yet whose deepest mysteries remain beautifully unsolved. This is not a book to rush through, but rather one to return to repeatedly, as each reading reveals more layers about migration patterns, whale behavior, and marine ecosystems.

An unforgettable encounter that will spark a lifelong fascination with these extraordinary beings.(Informational picture book. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews