Salamander Sky

New edition, new publisher! McSea books, Out in December 2022. 

This is the page for all things Salamander Sky!  This is updated frequently and please let me know if you are interested in having me visit your bookstore, classroom, nature center, or library.  And please come out and learn about salamanders, citizen science, and the creative process at one (or all!) of these events. I’d love to see you!


Early reviews of Salamander Sky:

“Told in a soft spoken, poetic voice akin to that of Jane Yolen’s Owl MoonSalamander Sky brings wonder and anticipation in droves. Farber’s text has all the great lean-in qualities of a storied secret passed among friends in the lunch room, and Sodano’s illustrations lead readers by mere flashlight and anticipation to a place of fascination. Salamander Sky has within its pages the power to ignite curiosity in the unexplored backyard while at the same time respecting and not disrupting nature’s hand in the survival of a species. And what could be better than that?” — Matthew Winner, Founder, All the Wonders

“….it’s a quiet, patient story, beautifully reflected in Sodano’s paintings, which are done with colored inks, crayon, water-soluble pencils, and digital techniques. These show a black-haired, olive-skinned child and her diverse classmates, salamanders at varying life stages, and the early-spring woodland world near her home. There’s a map showing that spotted salamanders (the species depicted) range broadly down the East Coast and into the Midwest. These excellent illustrations help bring the girl’s expedition to life and add information, too.

A lovely vehicle for sharing nature with children. (Informational picture book. 4-8)”  —Kirkus Reviews

“The secret life of the spotted salamander unfolds as April anticipates her special role in their yearly migration from underground habitats beneath the forest floor to nearby ponds and wetlands. Hushed and reverent with flashlights and raincoats, mother and daughter venture out at night to carefully help the slowly creeping travelers safely across the roadway. Share in their joy, found through the care and conservation of the shrinking salamander populations of eastern North America.” —Foreword Reviews


For Educators/Parents/Guardians/Librarians/Booksellers:

Salamander Sky

  • targets many of the Next Generation Science Standards for elementary school students, including life cycles, wetland habitats, diversity, adaptations and human impact
  • communicates a strong conservation message
  • geared toward preschool through elementary school aged students
  • models first hand exploration and investigation in nature
  • addresses human impact on the environment and encourages active participation in solutions
  • provides a resource for science teachers, environmental educators and parents to introduce inquiry to students
  • inspires engagement and curiosity
  • focuses on a vulnerable and often unnoticed species of amphibians that inhabits much of the Eastern United States
  • embraces diversity and promotes women in science

Here’s how to order the book from the distributer if you are bookseller. Otherwise, please ask for Salamander Sky at your local bookstore or library, or visit any online book seller to order your copy!


Trailer

Be sure to look for salamander news and updates here and on social media at #SalamanderSky. Together we can help these important and beautiful creatures!