Run Salmon Run

The simple cover image of a silver-sided salmon emerging from a mountain river into the sea belies the adventure that will be shared within the pages of this appealing picture book. The title words, Run Salmon Run, hint of a lively tale, and the opening rhyme at once confirms that impression. The reader will be swept along in the lyrical content all the way to the final page of this delightful story of the salmon life cycle. A sing-along refrain links each stage of the rhyming tale as the salmon grow, wiggle, drift, learn, dart, glide, swim, search, leap and share their journey. It’s a circle story, of course, from egg, through alevin, fry, smolt, adult and back to egg. It ends with an echo of the opening words, shown in the excerpt above. A final page “Glossary” explains salmon terms.

Bright crisp colors and vitality in the illustrations combined seamlessly with engaging easy-to-read rhyme are all highlights of this science-based creation by entertainment duo Bobs and LoLo. The layout is clean, with good page-turning quality. It’s a highly effective package that will easily hold the reader’s attention. In fact, it is hard not to bob to the rhythm of the refrain found on each right hand page…. “drift fry drift, in the stream sure and swift...” Such involvement becomes an active learning opportunity in a presentation guaranteed to help youngsters remember and appreciate the facts of the salmon’s fascinating story. It’s a popular topic for a picture book, and this new offering will find favor with the youngest audience. The contents of Run Salmon Run are a good reason for it to be a valued addition in the primary curriculum areas of environmental studies, but it will make a fun gift book, too, perfect to read on a summer vacation by the sea.

Run Salmon Run was produced in coordination with the BC Salmon Marketing Council to educate readers about the salmon cycle and the vital connections between wild salmon, the environment and people.