Numenia and the Hurricane, Inspired by a True Migration Story written and illustrated by Fiona Halliday

Numenia and the Hurricane: Inspired by a True Migration Story

Written and illustrated by Fiona Halliday

Page Street Kids, 2020, 40 pages

As fall approaches, how many times have you looked up at the sky and watched flocks of birds migrating south but never considered the perils they might face on their journey? Here is the story of one whimbrel that may lead to a whole new appreciation of these migrating birds.

Hatched in the same nest one early spring, three young whimbrels spend the spring and summer growing bigger and stronger, learning how to fly and find food on northernmost Hudson Bay. But when autumn arrives, it is time to fly south. No sooner do they head for the warmer climes of the Caribbean, than rain begins to fall and the three sisters find themselves caught in a terrible hurricane. Suddenly one of them, Numenia, is torn away from her sisters, landing wet and weak on a high windowsill.

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After resting through the night, Numenia takes off again in the morning, determined to be reunited with her sisters. Flying through heavy rain and strong winds, with no food, and losing weight, Numenia is determined to find her sisters.

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As Numenia flies further south, the weather starts to becomes warmer. But, this poor weary bird finds more danger even after she arrives at her destination, making it even more difficult to find her sisters. How will Numenia ever find her sisters and the other birds that have flown so far from so far north to a warm Caribbean island?

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No fear, the two sisters have been waiting for Numenia's arrival, confident that they will be reunited.

Numenia"s story is told in a spare but lyrical rhyme. In contrast, the detailed illustrations invites the reader into Numenia's world and encourages them to explore each and every detail. Each illustraion, done in traditional and digital mixed media, and harmonizes perfectly with the text.

Numenia's story is at once nail biting (will she make?) and uplifting. This is a perfect read aloud for young readers, one that will have them cheering this fragile little bird on to her ultimate reunion with her sisters. At the same time, it is a wonderful STEM book that can be used for introducing kids to birds and bird behavior (how do they know to fly south?)

Numenia and the Hurricane was inspired by the true story of a whimbrel named Hope who flew through Hurricane Gert in 2011 for 27 straight hours. Halliday was inspired by Hope's "courage and stoicism in the face of overwhelming odds." Hope's story is detailed in this book's back matter. and as Halliday concludes there "We can learn from [the birds] tenacity and determination to face our storms with the same quiet courage." Could there be a better time to read this inspiring story than now?

FYI: Numenia's name comes from her scientific name Numenius phaeopus. The crescent shape of a whimbrel's beak resembles the crescent of a new moon, which is what Numenius means in Greek, while phaeopus simply means "dark countenance."

Meet the Author:
Numenia and the Hurricane is Fiona Halliday's debut picture book. She is a Scottish picture book writer and illustration. She loves all things finned, furred, feathered, and fantastical. She started digitally doodling during her lunch breaks at work and hasn't stopped. She has a First in English Literature from Edinburgh University and a Masters in Photojournalism.
Halliday has worked as a freelance journalist and photographer, which took her on a few exciting trips like witnessing the great European Crane migration over the Hungarian Steppe, humpbacked whale spotting in Iceland and the great gannetries of Shetland. She has also worked as an English teacher, an organist, and currently as a product photographer and graphic designer.

This book is recommended for readers age 4+
This book was a EARC gratefully received from the author.