Swimming Home

Illustrated with spectacular paintings, Swimming Home tells the compelling story of a school of alewives (river herring) as they return to their natal lake to spawn. But a newly built culvert blocks their way. Will this be the end of their journey?

• An epic animal migration story in the tradition of March of the Penguins.


• The story follows a school of fish (river herring, or alewives) on a journey of hundreds of miles, escaping porpoises, seals, eagles, and herons.


• Swimming Home is also the moving story of a boy and his father who see the fish stopped just short of their goal by a new road, and transport them across the last hundred feet.

The Tilbury House Nature Book series brings the natural world to life for young readers without anthropomorphizing animals. Each book aims for the highest standards of scientific accuracy and storytelling magic.