A Salmon Story: Protecting the Future, written by Willie Poll and illustrated by Chantelle Trainor-Matties. Owlkids, 2026. $22.95 ages 5 and up

"Their world gets bigger, and so do they ... 

The salmon are now called smelts. They've grown 
a lot but are still young and haven't reached full 
strength. At this point, they emerge into an estuary, 
a body of water where the stream's fresh water mixes
with the ocean's salt water."

Narration for this life cycle story, that also touches on the threats that salmon face as they make their way from hatching to final spawning, is clear and rhythmically shared in the voice of one salmon. It is third generation, and explains its purpose in this world and how when its life ends, it will watch from the spirit world the life cycle continue for thousands of years forward. 

Poetic text offers the tale of a salmon hatching beneath a waterfall, strong and ready to make its way in life. Newborns sustain themselves by consuming their nourishing yolk sac before heading out into the river. From alevin (newborns) to fry, they make their way toward the sea looking for food to sustain them. On this first part of the journey they smolt, and their scales turn to silver as they move from freshwater toward the sea's saltwater environment. 

At the same time, they become prey for animals like seals and eagles. In this estuary, they feed in preparation for a long journey. They also come upon large nets with trapped fish inside them. A fish farm is something new to the salmon, and they are not prepared for anything that blocks their travel.

"Human activity has changed salmon habitats and interfered 
with their long-established routes. One of the most harmful of these
activities is open-net pen fish farms - enclosures in the water where 
fish are kept and eventually sold to markets and restaurants."

Even if the salmon are not trapped there, they are exposed to the sea lice and viruses that are abundant near these fish farms. Healthy fish become sick; the salmon population lessens; orcas and bears that depend on salmon can no longer rely on the abundant food they once provided. Salmon carcasses, which once enriched the soil, have also diminished. 

Willie Poll, a Metis author and educator, has written an effective and informative book. Her poetic text is accompanied on each spread by further text in a smaller font that adds context and worthwhile facts. It is a call to readers and listeners to consider the threats faced by a keystone species and how it impacts nature and humans. Ms. Trainor-Matties accompanies the text with Northwest Coastal designs that show the salmon and wildlife found there. 

In final pages, there is a note from knowledgekeeper Lakal't (Tanina Williams) who speaks to the need to care for the salmon for future generations. Alongside her note is a list of words from her Lil'wat nation, words that she and members of her nation want to preserve and increase. Finally, a glossary offers an explanation for words used in the book's text.