As Kate and her dad talk a walk through the Pacific Northwest rain forest, he explains to her how all life in the forest is connected—each living thing dependent on another, or many others. The back-and-forth dialogue between Kate and her dad feels natural rather than forced. This prevents the narrative from straying to didacticism, despite its strong environmental message and the bounty of information about the life cycle of the salmon and other aspects of the forest ecosystem that’s packed in. A subtle aspect of the story references Native fishing practices. Kate and her dad come upon friends spearfishing in the river and stay to share some of the catch that they prepare. The family is clearly Native, although this is ‑never explicitly stated in the story. Sheena Lott’s light-filled watercolors form an exquisite backdrop on every page. (Ages 5–9)

In this tribute to the Pacific rainforest for kids 5 to 8, join Kate for a walk in the woods--and discover why it's called the "salmon forest."

One Fall day, Kate goes with her father, a fish biologist, to the river where he works in the Pacific rain forest--the "salmon forest," as he calls it. Together, they watch the sockeye salmon returning to the river to spawn, watch fat slugs and squawking gulls, and witness a bear scooping up a salmon. Next, they meet a boy named Brett and his family fishing at a pool in the river, and learn how to clean and cook salmon before sharing a tasty meal.

With charming, informative text and watercolor illustrations that magically evoke the spirit and mystery of the West Coast, Salmon Forest celebrates the surprising connection between the salmon and the forest, and why they need each other.