I grew up in a place that often saw Humpback whales migrating, but I often forget that there are other migration routes for these beautiful creatures all around the world!
Juliana Muñoz Toro is a writer and story embroiderer based in Bogotá, Colombia. The Humpbacks’ Journey, her English-language debut, was the winner of the 2021 Banco del Libro Award in the Informative Books category, and it was also selected for the “Reading Colombia” catalog in 2022. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram.
JOURNEY OF THE HUMPBACKS is a new picture book in Eerdmans’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series. It’s a nonfiction look at the humpback whales that migrate back and forth between Antarctica and the Pacific ocean around Columbia and it is chockablock full of incredible whale facts and art by the illustrator Dipacho. This is a killer combination of information that is delivered in a really fascinating way. It’s no wonder to me that the book has already won awards.
Please note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review, but the opinions, as always, are my own.
Welcome Juliana!
Me: Can you share about your journey? When did you start writing? How did that bring you to where you are now as the author of this picture book?
Juliana: My journey began without me realizing it—in the stories my mother used to tell me, in the refuge books offered me since I was a child, in the pages of my childhood diaries. Later, in my teenage years, writing became more constant and reflective. I no longer wanted to write just for myself, but to share—and to feel I wasn’t alone with everything I was feeling, the beautiful and the dark.
I studied journalism and later earned a master’s degree in Creative Writing at New York University. That training, of course, changed my life as a writer—it gave me the tools to turn this from a hobby into a craft I think about day and night. These days, everything I do—whether traveling, embroidering, or in my life as a mother—is also writing.
Me: I love this journey of the humpback whale from Antarctica to Columbia. I wasn’t aware that there were humpback whales on the complete opposite end of the globe from me here in Alaska. What gave you the idea to capture their journey in a picture book?
Juliana: Thank you! The idea came about as a team effort with the editor, Paula Guerra, and the illustrator, Dipacho. We wanted the book to offer more than just facts and scientific information—we wanted it to have a narrative thread that would take readers on a journey. Almost like a fictional story, with immersive storytelling and poetic metaphors, but in reality, everything would be true, scientifically accurate, and full of fascinating information for readers of all ages.
Me: I’ve never seen a picture book give credit to researchers as creators before. Can you talk about the research process for a book like this one that is so full of facts? What parts did you research on your own? Why three separate researchers?
Juliana: The researchers were essential to the writing and illustration journey of this book. They provided us with valuable information beyond what you can find online—they took the time to sit down with me and give me short biology lessons so I could understand the importance of humpback whales, as well as the many mysteries that still remain unsolved. In this process, I didn’t just feel like a writer—I felt like a researcher too, and like a curious child who’s not afraid to ask anything.
On my own, I also read scientific articles and—something very important—I watched many videos of whales in Antarctica to get a real sense of the atmosphere, which I could then try to convey in the book. I also traveled to Colombia’s Pacific coast and experienced firsthand the thrill of being near these enormous animals.
We worked with three different researchers because each of them contributed something unique, based on their own research experience.
Me: Did you learn any new facts while writing this book? What is one of your favorite facts about humpback whales?
Juliana: I learned so much! And more than concrete facts, what moved me the most was seeing behaviors in these mammals that one might consider very “human”: like the culture behind their songs, their memory in repeating the same journey each year, and how incredible the humpback whale mothers are. They are truly impressive animals—one of the largest in the ocean—and, you could say, the most peaceful. I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that they and we share the same planet.
Me: The illustrations by Dipacho are incredible. That opening page is stunning! Were there any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?
Juliana: I can’t imagine a better job than the one Dipacho did—thanks to that mix of precision and playfulness. One of my favorite images is the one where the mother whale lifts her calf to the surface for its very first breath of air. That’s exactly how one of the researchers described it to us, and I love how, in a single still image, Dipacho was able to capture both the movement and the gentleness of that moment.
Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this book?
Juliana: I was very surprised to learn that there are still places in the world where whales are not protected and, sadly, are still being hunted. And on a more hopeful note, I was moved to discover that when whales die, they feed many species on the ocean floor—and in that way, in both life and death, they continue to be, in very human words: generous.
Me: I love that. Any advice for other aspiring picture book writers?
Juliana: Collaboration between author and illustrator is essential. I feel it’s very different when each one works separately. Picture books are, in a way, a third language—not just verbal or visual, but the perfect blend of both. Another important piece of advice is to be readers of this kind of book and not to underestimate them or think they’re only for children. In fact, these texts have many layers of meaning and complexity that make them well worth reading for adults too.
Thanks for this beautiful interview, Jena 🙂
Thank YOU so much for stopping by my blog today Juliana.
Dear readers, this book publishes next week. You can read it for the journey, the art, or even just the facts. This is a book that can be appreciated on many different levels. Trust me when I say that this is one you won’t want to miss.