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Salmon Creek
One of the most fascinating stories in nature is the life cycle of the Pacific salmon. This lyrical, beautiful non-fiction picture book tells the story of one coho, Sumi, from her birth in a remote creek, to her final hours when she spawns and then dies.
All phases of Sumi's life are shown from her trip down river to the ocean; her time as a fully mature fish swimming in the great seas; to the most fascinating and mysterious period in the life cycle of these magic animals, the determined return against great obstacles to her birthplace.
Many thousands of people come to witness these last great moments in the lives of salmon because it is such a moving and interesting phenomenon. As wild salmon become rarer due to our exploitation of their environment and the consequent destruction of their habitat, as well as of our abusive over-fishing practices, their story engages us more than ever. This book is a plea for protection of salmon and of the natural world which they inhabit. An afterward presents the factual basis for the book and amplifies on the poetic text.
All phases of Sumi's life are shown from her trip down river to the ocean; her time as a fully mature fish swimming in the great seas; to the most fascinating and mysterious period in the life cycle of these magic animals, the determined return against great obstacles to her birthplace.
Many thousands of people come to witness these last great moments in the lives of salmon because it is such a moving and interesting phenomenon. As wild salmon become rarer due to our exploitation of their environment and the consequent destruction of their habitat, as well as of our abusive over-fishing practices, their story engages us more than ever. This book is a plea for protection of salmon and of the natural world which they inhabit. An afterward presents the factual basis for the book and amplifies on the poetic text.
48 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
40 people want to read
About the author
Annette LeBox
8 books22 followersAnnette LeBox is an environmental activist and award-winning author of six picture books and two YA novels. Her latest picture book is Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate, illustrated by Crystal Smith and published by Groundwood Books. Mother Aspen was published in September, 2024. As a founding member and director of the Pitt Polder Preservation Society, Annette was a major stakeholder in the conservation of two British Columbia Regional Parks: Blaney Bog and Codd Wetlands.
Her picture book, Salmon Creek, was awarded the British Columbia Book prize for illustrated literature in 2002. Circle of Cranes, a YA novel, by Dial Books, Penguin U.S. was shortlisted for the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award. Her latest picture book, Peace is an Offering won the 2016 BC Book Prize for Illustrated Literature. Formerly from Ontario, Annette lives in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. She is married to Michael Sather.
Her picture book, Salmon Creek, was awarded the British Columbia Book prize for illustrated literature in 2002. Circle of Cranes, a YA novel, by Dial Books, Penguin U.S. was shortlisted for the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award. Her latest picture book, Peace is an Offering won the 2016 BC Book Prize for Illustrated Literature. Formerly from Ontario, Annette lives in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. She is married to Michael Sather.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 25, 2019
Fantastic poetic story of Sumi, a salmon, and her journey to the ocean and back home to the creek where she was born. Entertaining and educational. Save the salmon!
February 4, 2022
A lifecycle story for older children (grade 4/5?) simply because some of the vocabulary meaning and length of the story will be lost on younger kids.
Illustrations were very pretty. Includes a section at the back of the book to show a timeline of Coho Salmon life; some threats they face & a page of suggestions on how to help or other reading material.
Illustrations were very pretty. Includes a section at the back of the book to show a timeline of Coho Salmon life; some threats they face & a page of suggestions on how to help or other reading material.
March 20, 2013
A wonderful combination of beautiful, lyric language and accurate information about the life cycle of the coho salmon. Presents death in a very natural, soft way. I love how the poetry of the book hangs on alliteration, onomatopoeia, slant rhyme, and a very loose, occasional rhyming structure--it's a nice change from the usual Seussian rhyme presented for kids.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews