All phases in the life of Sumi, a coho salmon, 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.

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 from our abusive overfishing 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. A capsule life cycle presents the factual basis for the poetic text, and an afterward decribes the threats facing wild salmon today.

ANNETTE LEBOX is a poet and an environmental activist who divides her time between Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and a remote cabin in the Cariboo grasslands. She has won the BC Book Prize for illustrated children’s literature twice: for Salmon Creek, illustrated by Karen Reczuch, and for Peace Is an Offering, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, which was also selected for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She is also the author of the YA novel Circle of Cranes.

Annette LeBox's profile page

Karen Reczuch has illustrated many award-winning children’s books. Loon by Susan Vande Griek won the TD Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-fiction, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Picture Book Award and the Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Information Book Award. Karen’s other publications include West Coast Wild, winner of the VCLR Information Book Award; The Auction by Jan Andrews, a Governor General’s Award finalist; Just Like New by Ainslie Manson, winner of the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award; and Salmon Creek, winner of the BC Book Prize. Karen’s work includes scientific, historical and archeological illustration, and has been exhibited internationally.

Karen Reczuch's profile page

• Commended, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award (Honor Book)

Salmon Creek is one of those rare information picture books which proves equally engaging to young listeners and older independent readers. (To say nothing of adult readers who can't help but savor the poetic text and breathtaking illustrations.)

Canadian Materials

...Salmon Creek is a rare information book: one that engages head and heart.

Quill & Quire, STARRED REVIEW

Reczuch, Karen's sumptuous, detailed paintings complement the text to create an informative resource useful for explaining the remarkable natural phenomenon of salmon migration.

Green Teacher