
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the desire to 'keep' or 'own' something from nature, or when they are learning that caring for an animal sometimes means letting it go. Simon, a young boy from a First Nations community, spends his summer desperately trying to catch a salmon. When a lucky accident lands a beautiful coho in a tide pool right in front of him, he is faced with a profound choice. As he watches the fish lose its strength, his excitement turns into deep empathy. This is a gentle, beautifully illustrated story about the transition from the urge to hunt or possess toward a mature respect for the wild. It is an ideal pick for teaching kindness, the ethics of catch-and-release, and the importance of ecological harmony.
The book handles the life cycle of nature and the concept of hunting/fishing in a secular, respectful manner. The salmon is in distress, but the resolution is hopeful and life-affirming.
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Sign in to write a reviewA 5-to-7-year-old child who loves exploring tide pools or the woods, particularly one who struggles with wanting to take home 'treasures' like frogs, bugs, or shells, and needs to understand why wild things should stay wild.
The book can be read cold. Parents may want to look at the beautiful watercolor illustrations beforehand to discuss the coastal setting. A parent might see their child being rough with a small creature or crying because they cannot keep a wild animal as a pet.
Younger children (4-5) will focus on the tension of the fish being stuck and the 'rescue' mission. Older children (7-8) will pick up on the cultural context of the setting and the moral weight of Simon's internal shift from hunter to protector.
Unlike many nature books that focus solely on biology, this one focuses on the internal moral growth of the child. It captures the specific atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest and offers a subtle, non-preachy depiction of First Nations life.
Simon, a First Nations boy living on the west coast, spends his days fishing for a big salmon but only manages to catch small things or lose his bait. One day, an eagle accidentally drops a large coho salmon into a small tide pool. Initially thrilled to finally have his fish, Simon watches as the salmon begins to suffer in the shallow water. He realizes the fish belongs in the ocean and works tirelessly to dig a channel to set it free.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.