Human Migration

About 200,000 years ago, humans arose as a species on the continent of Africa. How did they get to the rest of the world? When did they leave, why, and what did they use for transportation? Whether by bamboo raft or Boeing 747, whether to escape political persecution or because of climate change, migration is a recurring pattern throughout the human history of the world.

In Human Migration: Investigate the Global Journey of Humankind, readers ages 12 to 15 retrace the paths taken by our ancestors, starting with the very first steps away from African soil. Understanding who has migrated, from where, when, and why helps us understand the shared history of humans across the world and the future that links us together.

Kids discover how archaeologists, paleoanthropologists, linguists, and geneticists piece together different parts of the puzzle of ancient migration. Open-ended, inquiry-based activities and links to primary sources help readers draw inferences and analyze how these human journeys have changed where and how people live. Human Migration takes readers on a journey from our common ancestry to our shared future on an increasingly fragile planet.

Judy Dodge Cummings has taught American history for 25 years. She has a BA in Broadfield Social Studies and an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Teens. She is the author of The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence for Nomad Press, plus numerous articles and books including The Civil War and Exploring Polar Regions. Judy lives in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.

Tom Casteel is an illustrator and cartoonist with a master's degree from the Center for Cartoon Studies. Tom has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth’s Most Destructive Forces; Cities: Discover How They Work; and Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration. Tom lives in South Bend, Indiana.