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Contact form submissions will be sent directly to the author. For tracking purposes only, The Friends will also receive a copy.

Laura Purdie Salas

Laura Purdie Salas has written more than 130 books for kids, including Lion of the Sky, the Can Be… series (Bank Street Best Books, IRA Teachers’ Choice), BookSpeak! (Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notable), and Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. Science and poetry are her first loves, and she enjoys mashing up different genres and styles. She wants to write entertaining books that help kids see the wonder that our world contains. A former teacher, Salas loves to get kids excited about reading and writing, and she also likes sharing inspiration and practical tips with educators about poetry, nonfiction, and more.

Recent & Notable Works

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Bibliography

Fiction
If You Want to Knit Some Mittens (Boyds Mills Kane, 2021)
Clover Goes to Kittygarten (Two Lions, 2020)
Secrets of the Loon (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2020)

Poetry Picture Books
A Word in the Hand (forthcoming from Wordsong)
Snowman-Cold=Puddle: Spring Equations (Charlesbridge, 2019)
Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons (Millbrook Press, 2019)
In the Middle of the Night: Poems from a Wide Awake House (Wordsong, 2019)
BookSpeak! Poems about Books (Clarion, 2011)
Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School (Clarion, 2009)

Nonfiction
We Belong (forthcoming from Carolrhoda, 2022)
Zap! Clap! Boom! (forthcoming from Bloomsbury)
Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle: How Animals Get Ready for Winter (Millbrook Press, 2019)
Meet My Family! (Millbrook Press, 2018)
Wild World of Animal Colors – Crayola (Lerner Publishing Group, 2018)
How to Make a Rainbow (Crayola) (Lerner Publishing Group, 2018)
If You Were the Moon (Millbrook Press, 2017)
A Rock Can Be… (Millbrook Press, 2015)
Catch Your Breath: Writing Poignant Poetry (Capstone Press, 2015)
Water Can Be… (Millbrook Press, 2014)
A Leaf Can Be… (Millbrook Press, 2012)
Picture Yourself Writing Poetry (Capstone Press, 2011)

Colors all Around Series (Capstone Press, 2011)
Colors of Fall
Colors of Insects
Colors of Oceans
Colors of Sports
Colors of Weather

Science Songs Series (Picture Window Books, 2010)
I’m Exploring With My Senses: A Song about the Five Senses
Eight Great Planets!: A Song about The Planets
There Goes the Water: A Song about the Water Cycle
Many Creatures: A Song about Animal Classifications

Alphabet Fun Series (Capstone Press, 2010-2011)
A Is for Arrr! A Pirate Alphabet
C Is for Cake! A Birthday Alphabet
J Is for Jingle Bells: A Christmas Alphabet
P Is for Pom Pom! A Cheerleading Alphabet
S Is for Score! A Sports Alphabet
Y Is for Yak: A Zoo Alphabet
Y Is for Yowl! A Scary Alphabet
Z Is for Zoom! A Race Car Alphabet

Amazing Science: Animal Classification Series (Picture Window Books, 2009)
Mammals: Hairy, Milk-Making Animals
Reptiles: Scaly-Skinned Animals
Amphibians: Water-to-Land Animals

Science Songs Series (Picture Window Books, 2009)
Are You Living?: A Song About Living and Nonliving Things
From Beginning to End: A Song About Life Cycles
Home on the Earth: A Song About Earth’s Layers
Move It! Work It!: A Song About Simple Machines

Gallaudet University: Where Deaf People Can Be Heard [Leveled Reader] (Zaner-Bloser, 2009)

Amazing Science: Following the Life Cycle Series (Picture Window Books, 2008)
From Seed to Daisy
From Seed to Maple Tree
From Mealworm to Beetle

Write Your Own Poetry (Compass Point, 2008)
Scrapbooking for Fun! (Compass Point, 2008)
Where Can I Stay Tonight? Homeless in America [Leveled Reader] (Zaner-Bloser, 2007)

Amazing Science: Ecosystems Series (Picture Window Books, 2007-2009)
Coral Reefs: Colorful Underwater Habitats
Tundras: Frosty, Treeless Lands
Wetlands: Soggy Habitat
Deserts: Thirsty Wonderlands
Grasslands: Fields of Green and Gold
Oceans: Underwater Worlds
Rain Forests: Gardens of Green
Temperate Deciduous Forests: Lands of Falling Leaves

Changing Planet: How Earthquakes & Volcanoes Shape Our World [Leveled Reader] (CTB, 2007)
Coming to America [Leveled Reader] (Zaner-Bloser, 2006)

Animals All Around Series (Picture Window Books, 2006)
Do Turtles Sleep in Treetops?: A Book About Animal Homes
Does an Elephant Fit in Your Hand?: A Book About Animal Sizes
Do Crocodiles Dance?: A Book About Animal Habits
Do Pelicans Sip Nectar?: A Book About How Animals Eat
Do Lobsters Leap Waterfalls?: A Book About Animal Migration
Do Polar Bears Snooze in Hollow Trees?: A Book About Animal Hibernation

Whose Is It? Community Workers Series (Picture Window Books, 2006)
Whose Shoes Are These? A Look at Workers’ Footwear
Whose Gloves Are These? A Look at Gloves Workers Wear
Whose Coat Is This? A Look at How Workers Cover Up

Fact Finders Biographies: Great African Americans (Capstone Press, 2006):
Phillis Wheatley: Colonial American Poet
Charles Drew: Pioneer in Medicine

Discovering Nature’s Laws: A Story about Isaac Newton (Lerner Press, 2004)
Taking the Plunge: A Teen’s Guide to Independence (Child Welfare League, 2004)

The Great Outdoors Series (Capstone Press)
Saltwater Fishing (2004)
Canoeing (2002)
Ice Fishing (2002)
Snowmobiling (2002)

The Thrill of the Ride (Steck-Vaughn, 2003)

Let Freedom Ring Series (Capstone Press, 2003)
Trail of Tears
Wilderness Road

Countries and Cultures (Capstone Press, 2002):
China
Germany

Forest Fires (Capstone Press, 2001)

A+ Poetry Series (Capstone, 2008)
Shrinking Days, Frosty Nights: Poems about Fall
Seed Sower, Hat Thrower: Poems about Weather
Tiny Dreams, Sprouting Tall: Poems about the United States
And Then There Were Eight: Poems about Space
Flashy, Clashy, and Oh-So Splashy: Poems about Color
Do Buses Eat Kids? Poems about School
Lettuce Introduce You: Poems about Food
A Fuzzy-Fast Blur: Poems about Pets
Always Got My Feet: Poems about Transportation
Chatter, Sing, Roar, Buzz: Poems about the Rain Forest

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