Salamander Song

Ginny Neil is happiest when she has paint under her fingernails, a pencil in her hand, or mud between her toes. Her creative mind has led to awards in the classroom and as a picture book author/illustrator. She writes for both children and adults. Her picture book The Glorious Forest that Fire Built was then winner of both the Blueberry Honor Book Award and the Eureka Honor Book Award. Ginny lives in Virginia.

Charli Vince is an illustrator and writer working (and raiding vintage shops) in the heart of Norwich, United Kingdom.

Salamanders and children alike hear the rhythms and song of the seasons as winter gives way to spring. Salamanders begin to squirm and stretch in the early spring sun, while the children and their teacher plan. They meet on a night of salamander rain (the first warm rain of spring), when the children and their teacher work to help the salamanders cross a busy road to the vernal pool on the other side. This lyrical, parallel narrative story reinforces the idea that kids can make a big difference. The author's note includes information about amphibian migrations and descriptions of citizen science activities that kids can participate in to help keep the world wild and beautiful.