Title: Migrant
Author: Maxine Trottier
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Age Group: 4-8
Synopsis: A unique insight into the life of migrant workers.
The Lowdown:
I don’t know very much about migrant workers and I honestly might picture them completely differently than the way they’re portrayed in Migrant. But that’s one of the reasons we read isn’t it? To learn. Maxine Trottier’s story was insightful, poetic, and thoughtful. It was made all the better by the imaginative and beautiful illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault.
Trottier tells this story centered around the character, Anna. Anna is the youngest member in a migrant working family and likens her day to day experiences as those from animals. She feels like a bee, a kitten, a jack rabbit, and a butterfly. Working (when she can, as she’s too young yet), snuggling with her sisters, living in a new burrow/home, and finally making journeys dependent upon the season. Anna describes the strangeness in hearing the different languages of both Mexico and Canada or the idea of staying in one place all year long. It’s refreshing and touching and poignant and hopeful.
These feelings are sometimes contradictory. But the thread that pulls them all together the way that they’re portrayed by Trottier’s beautifully expressive illustrations. They have a sharp edge to some of them that’s counteracted by the soft tones that Trottier mostly uses. And the imaginative interpretation of Anna’s feelings lends an air of whimsy that allows for the book to maintain a slight lightheartedness that is so common in children. The use of patterns throughout the story follows Anna’s feelings and can depict the feelings of inclusion or just the opposite.
The book in it’s entirety is a fantastic symphony of emotions that are described and written so beautifully that it feels as though the reader is holding a treasure. I love too that this book not only informs but helps the reader relate to the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of Anna and her family. It is why we read. To learn, to grow, to better understand.
Story Tips:
- When Anna is describing the animals allow your reader to guess how that animal acts or feels. Can they guess why Anna is relating herself to that animal?
I need more!
Maxine Trottier has written 40+ books, most of which have Canadian themes and are chapter books. For more information on her and her stories check our Google of Amazon.
Isabelle Arsenault has a lovely array of books, we’ve read the stunning: Virginia Wolf and Cloth Lullaby. But for more information check out: http://www.isabellearsenault.com/publications/
