SALAMANDER SKY, by Katy Farber

Review by Annie Cronin Romano 

I have been reading nonfiction picture books more and more often these days. Most have been biographies, but this week I read a nonfiction science picture book, SALAMANDER SKY (Green Writers Press, 2018), that shares a different kind of experience: the springtime migration of the spotted salamander. Through the eyes of a young girl, the reader sees her excitement about witnessing the salamanders’ night journey and her determination to help keep them safe on their travels.

Author Katy Farber uses a narrative writing style to share information about the spotted salamander and the reason for its migration. These scientific facts are folded neatly into the narrative in a manner easily relatable to children. Using soft, appealing illustrations, illustrator Meg Sodano captures the story-like presentation without sacrificing detail.

​SALAMANDER SKY is an ideal addition to elementary classrooms and complements several areas of the science curriculum. Young ones will be grabbing their flashlights and begging to scout out the spotted salamanders on rainy April nights! And any book that can spark that interest in a child is worthy of a spot on the bookshelf!
 
SALAMANDER SKY is a nonfiction nature picture book for children ages 4-8 years old. 

On Writing
By telling the story from the perspective of a young girl, Katy Farber makes this nature topic appealing to young readers and students. The portrayal of the child helping the salamanders safely navigate back to the water gives children an understanding of the importance of conservation and a knowledge that they can make a positive difference in the lives of nature’s creatures. 
 
For more information on Katy Farber’s work, visit her website at www.katyfarber.com.
For info on Meg Sodano’s work, visit her website at www.msodanoillustration.com.

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