{"id":7914947018989,"title":"Border Crossings","handle":"border-crossings","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" color=\"#715ed9\"\u003eWinner of the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award!\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sneed-b-collard-iii\"\u003eSneed B. Collard III\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/howard-gray\"\u003eHoward Gray\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere protective plants once stood, an ugly scar now stretches.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollow two endangered ocelots as they attempt to cross the border in this powerful picture book about the environmental impact of the border wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the beauty and biodiversity of our spectacular border area and see how the border wall impacts plants and animals. As two endangered ocelots attempt to cross the border, they face obstacles that drive home the catastrophic effects of the border wall—and the many benefits of keeping the border barrier-free. Powerful storytelling introduces young readers to the wildlife that thrives along the border and urges budding nature buffs to value and protect our environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/no-world-too-big\"\u003eNo World Too Big\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rare-and-blue\"\u003eRare and Blue\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/family-pack\"\u003eFamily Pack\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HWnEzoG_bTY\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/border-crossings-spread.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/border-crossings-cover-hires.jpeg.zip?v=1660330883\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSneed B. Collard III, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSneed B. Collard III is the author of more than seventy-five nonfiction books for young readers, including \u003cem\u003eLittle Killers: The Ferocious Lives of Puny Predators; One Iguana, Two Iguanas: A Story of Accident, Natural Selection, and Evolution;\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e Insects: The Most Fun Bug Book Ever.\u003c\/em\u003e He explores the great outdoors in Missoula, Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeet Sneed at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingbooks.net\/qly694r\" target=\"new\"\u003eTeachingBooks.net\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sneed-b-collard-iii\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sneed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHoward Gray, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoward Gray has always been fascinated with wildlife and has been drawing pictures (often of animals!) for as long as he can remember. He pursued both passions, completing a PhD in zoology, studying dolphins in the Arabian Sea, and becoming a children’s book illustrator. He has illustrated several picture books, including \u003cem\u003eMega-Predators of the Past \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Sing Some More!\u003c\/em\u003e Howard lives with his family in the picturesque city of Durham, England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/howard-gray\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Howard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA passionate screed about the detrimental effects of the U.S. southern border walls on ecosystems, particularly wild animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beautiful ocelot, one of only about 50 in the wild in the United States, prowls south in the springtime, seeking a mate. But the quietly moving cat encounters “something unexpected. Something frightening.” The obstacle is a 2,000-mile series of slats making up the border wall that separates the United States from Mexico in an effort to slow undocumented immigration. The ocelot is next scared off by a vehicle. “He will not find a mate or territory this year. Maybe not any year,” readers learn. The book then switches perspective to another ocelot on the opposite side of the wall before widening its view to discuss how entire areas of nature, even birds, are harmed by the human-made structures. Illustrations by Gray contrast the hard, unyielding structure, in one instance decorated by humans with counterdeclarations of love and peace, with the graceful curves of nature. Even the cacti look inviting. While the book’s conclusion is bleak, an author’s note explains with more context the extent of the problem and what nature lovers can do to help advocate for changes to the highly politicized border walls that would better accommodate animals and fauna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA convincing argument against border walls that even offers practical solutions. (glossary, further reading)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a warm, starry night, the pathways of migrating animals are blocked by the “ugly scar” of a border wall. Creatures seeking mates and food and grounds to roam find themselves blocked, imperiling “some of the richest habitats of North America.” Lush, nature-attentive illustrations flesh out this somber reality, depicting Sonoran desert stretches in shadow and sun, ocelots and other fauna with glowing eyes, and tempting spaces just beyond the creatures’ reach, alerting young readers to the ranging consequences of choosing to block borders off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a shadowy night, a young ocelot makes his way south in search of a mate, but his trip abruptly ends when he comes to a giant wall: “where protective plants once stood, an ugly scar now stretches.” Unable to squeeze through the wall’s slats or gain traction on its slippery sides, the ocelot turns back and becomes one of many animals whose environment has been radically changed by the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The book then walks viewers through the deserts, forests, and grasslands that surround the wall, emphasizing that the border is completely arbitrary and nonexistent in the environment. Its effects, however, are quite real, dividing breeding grounds, disrupting migratory patterns, and upending ecosystems. Simple, direct text gives the book broad accessibility, and an author’s note offers more specifics on the building of the border wall and the animals endangered both by its presence and other manmade threats. Suggestions for activism, a glossary, and further resources are included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-238-2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6-9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 8\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2022-08-29T15:34:35-04:00","created_at":"2022-08-29T15:22:30-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Geography","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature","Browse by Subject_Social Studies\/Cultures","Browse by Subject_Travel \u0026 Transportation"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43262513381613,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"42382","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":37751199695085,"product_id":7914947018989,"position":1,"created_at":"2022-08-29T15:26:50-04:00","updated_at":"2022-08-29T15:26:51-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":464,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1661801211","variant_ids":[43262513381613]},"available":true,"name":"Border Crossings - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":369,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":8,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-62354-238-2","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":30330647609581,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.293,"height":464,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1661801211"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1661801211"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1661801211","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":30330647609581,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.293,"height":464,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1661801211"},"aspect_ratio":1.293,"height":464,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1661801211","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\" color=\"#715ed9\"\u003eWinner of the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award!\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sneed-b-collard-iii\"\u003eSneed B. Collard III\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/howard-gray\"\u003eHoward Gray\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere protective plants once stood, an ugly scar now stretches.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollow two endangered ocelots as they attempt to cross the border in this powerful picture book about the environmental impact of the border wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the beauty and biodiversity of our spectacular border area and see how the border wall impacts plants and animals. As two endangered ocelots attempt to cross the border, they face obstacles that drive home the catastrophic effects of the border wall—and the many benefits of keeping the border barrier-free. Powerful storytelling introduces young readers to the wildlife that thrives along the border and urges budding nature buffs to value and protect our environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/no-world-too-big\"\u003eNo World Too Big\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rare-and-blue\"\u003eRare and Blue\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/family-pack\"\u003eFamily Pack\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HWnEzoG_bTY\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/border-crossings-spread.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/border-crossings-cover.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/border-crossings-cover-hires.jpeg.zip?v=1660330883\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSneed B. Collard III, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSneed B. Collard III is the author of more than seventy-five nonfiction books for young readers, including \u003cem\u003eLittle Killers: The Ferocious Lives of Puny Predators; One Iguana, Two Iguanas: A Story of Accident, Natural Selection, and Evolution;\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e Insects: The Most Fun Bug Book Ever.\u003c\/em\u003e He explores the great outdoors in Missoula, Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeet Sneed at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingbooks.net\/qly694r\" target=\"new\"\u003eTeachingBooks.net\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sneed-b-collard-iii\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sneed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHoward Gray, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoward Gray has always been fascinated with wildlife and has been drawing pictures (often of animals!) for as long as he can remember. He pursued both passions, completing a PhD in zoology, studying dolphins in the Arabian Sea, and becoming a children’s book illustrator. He has illustrated several picture books, including \u003cem\u003eMega-Predators of the Past \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Sing Some More!\u003c\/em\u003e Howard lives with his family in the picturesque city of Durham, England.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/howard-gray\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Howard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA passionate screed about the detrimental effects of the U.S. southern border walls on ecosystems, particularly wild animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beautiful ocelot, one of only about 50 in the wild in the United States, prowls south in the springtime, seeking a mate. But the quietly moving cat encounters “something unexpected. Something frightening.” The obstacle is a 2,000-mile series of slats making up the border wall that separates the United States from Mexico in an effort to slow undocumented immigration. The ocelot is next scared off by a vehicle. “He will not find a mate or territory this year. Maybe not any year,” readers learn. The book then switches perspective to another ocelot on the opposite side of the wall before widening its view to discuss how entire areas of nature, even birds, are harmed by the human-made structures. Illustrations by Gray contrast the hard, unyielding structure, in one instance decorated by humans with counterdeclarations of love and peace, with the graceful curves of nature. Even the cacti look inviting. While the book’s conclusion is bleak, an author’s note explains with more context the extent of the problem and what nature lovers can do to help advocate for changes to the highly politicized border walls that would better accommodate animals and fauna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA convincing argument against border walls that even offers practical solutions. (glossary, further reading)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a warm, starry night, the pathways of migrating animals are blocked by the “ugly scar” of a border wall. Creatures seeking mates and food and grounds to roam find themselves blocked, imperiling “some of the richest habitats of North America.” Lush, nature-attentive illustrations flesh out this somber reality, depicting Sonoran desert stretches in shadow and sun, ocelots and other fauna with glowing eyes, and tempting spaces just beyond the creatures’ reach, alerting young readers to the ranging consequences of choosing to block borders off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a shadowy night, a young ocelot makes his way south in search of a mate, but his trip abruptly ends when he comes to a giant wall: “where protective plants once stood, an ugly scar now stretches.” Unable to squeeze through the wall’s slats or gain traction on its slippery sides, the ocelot turns back and becomes one of many animals whose environment has been radically changed by the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The book then walks viewers through the deserts, forests, and grasslands that surround the wall, emphasizing that the border is completely arbitrary and nonexistent in the environment. Its effects, however, are quite real, dividing breeding grounds, disrupting migratory patterns, and upending ecosystems. Simple, direct text gives the book broad accessibility, and an author’s note offers more specifics on the building of the border wall and the animals endangered both by its presence and other manmade threats. Suggestions for activism, a glossary, and further resources are included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-238-2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6-9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 8\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

Border Crossings

Winner of the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award!

By: Sneed B. Collard III / Illustrated by: Howard Gray

Where protective plants once stood, an ugly scar now stretches.

Follow two endangered ocelots as they attempt to cross the border in this powerful picture book about the environmental impact of the border wall.

Explore the beauty and biodiversity of our spectacular border area and see how the border wall impacts plants and animals. As two endangered ocelots attempt to cross the border, they face obstacles that drive home the catastrophic effects of the border wall—and the many benefits of keeping the border barrier-free. Powerful storytelling introduces young readers to the wildlife that thrives along the border and urges budding nature buffs to value and protect our environment.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Sneed B. Collard III, author

Sneed B. Collard III is the author of more than seventy-five nonfiction books for young readers, including Little Killers: The Ferocious Lives of Puny Predators; One Iguana, Two Iguanas: A Story of Accident, Natural Selection, and Evolution; and Insects: The Most Fun Bug Book Ever. He explores the great outdoors in Missoula, Montana.

Meet Sneed at TeachingBooks.net

Read more about Sneed.


Howard Gray, illustrator

Howard Gray has always been fascinated with wildlife and has been drawing pictures (often of animals!) for as long as he can remember. He pursued both passions, completing a PhD in zoology, studying dolphins in the Arabian Sea, and becoming a children’s book illustrator. He has illustrated several picture books, including Mega-Predators of the Past and Sing Some More! Howard lives with his family in the picturesque city of Durham, England.

Read more about Howard.

  • 2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner 

Kirkus Reviews

A passionate screed about the detrimental effects of the U.S. southern border walls on ecosystems, particularly wild animals.

A beautiful ocelot, one of only about 50 in the wild in the United States, prowls south in the springtime, seeking a mate. But the quietly moving cat encounters “something unexpected. Something frightening.” The obstacle is a 2,000-mile series of slats making up the border wall that separates the United States from Mexico in an effort to slow undocumented immigration. The ocelot is next scared off by a vehicle. “He will not find a mate or territory this year. Maybe not any year,” readers learn. The book then switches perspective to another ocelot on the opposite side of the wall before widening its view to discuss how entire areas of nature, even birds, are harmed by the human-made structures. Illustrations by Gray contrast the hard, unyielding structure, in one instance decorated by humans with counterdeclarations of love and peace, with the graceful curves of nature. Even the cacti look inviting. While the book’s conclusion is bleak, an author’s note explains with more context the extent of the problem and what nature lovers can do to help advocate for changes to the highly politicized border walls that would better accommodate animals and fauna.

A convincing argument against border walls that even offers practical solutions. (glossary, further reading)

Foreword Reviews

On a warm, starry night, the pathways of migrating animals are blocked by the “ugly scar” of a border wall. Creatures seeking mates and food and grounds to roam find themselves blocked, imperiling “some of the richest habitats of North America.” Lush, nature-attentive illustrations flesh out this somber reality, depicting Sonoran desert stretches in shadow and sun, ocelots and other fauna with glowing eyes, and tempting spaces just beyond the creatures’ reach, alerting young readers to the ranging consequences of choosing to block borders off.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

On a shadowy night, a young ocelot makes his way south in search of a mate, but his trip abruptly ends when he comes to a giant wall: “where protective plants once stood, an ugly scar now stretches.” Unable to squeeze through the wall’s slats or gain traction on its slippery sides, the ocelot turns back and becomes one of many animals whose environment has been radically changed by the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The book then walks viewers through the deserts, forests, and grasslands that surround the wall, emphasizing that the border is completely arbitrary and nonexistent in the environment. Its effects, however, are quite real, dividing breeding grounds, disrupting migratory patterns, and upending ecosystems. Simple, direct text gives the book broad accessibility, and an author’s note offers more specifics on the building of the border wall and the animals endangered both by its presence and other manmade threats. Suggestions for activism, a glossary, and further resources are included.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-238-2

Ages: 6-9
Page count: 32
11 x 81/2