Come Back Salmon: How a Group of Dedicicated Kids Adopted Pigeon Creek and Brought it Back to Life

by Molly Cone, Sidnee Wheelwright (Photographer)

Overview

From Gisela Jernigan—Childrens Literature: "Although Pigeon Creek flows into Washington's beautiful Puget Sound, before it was adopted and cleaned up by Mr. Jackson's fifth grade class, it was so full of trash that you could barely see the water, let alone any fish. Just about everyone in Jackson Elementary, led by the dedicated fifth grade, helped to clean the creek and restock it with baby salmon. Throughout the project the kids learned a great deal about the ecology of the stream and the needs and life cycle of the Coho salmon. And even though many people told them the salmon would never return to Pigeon Creek, they were successful. The many colored photos and drawings enhance the lively text, which is informal, informational and inspiring. Orbis Pictus Award winner and a Horn Book Fanfare award."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780871564894
Publisher:	Sierra Club Books For Children
Publication date:	05/31/2001
Series:	Books for Children Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.12(d)
Lexile:	930L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 11 Years

About the Author

Molly Cone is the author of more than forty books for young readers, including seven titles in her popular Mishmash series. Both she and her husband are natives of Washington state, and they currently make their home in Seattle. Ms. Cone's penchant for Pacific Northwest settings and her love for the are around Puget Sound sparked her interest in the Jackson School story.

Sidnee Wheelwright lives in Snohomish County, Washington, where she writes and photographs for a number of local publications. Her photos have also appeared in national magazines, including U.S. Kids anf Good Housekeeping. A former English teacher, Ms. Wheelwright served as editor for the Adopt-A-Stream Foundation newsletter, and she is currently active in several local conservation efforts.

Read an Excerpt

Pigeon Creek #1 flows for about two miles. From the southwestern edge of the city Everett, Washington, it makes its way north to Puget Sound. Its last half-mile runs just below Jackson Elementary School. To get to the Sound, the creek flows through a culvert, or large pipe, under the railroad tracks and then across a sandy beach.

None of the students at Jackson School had ever seen a fish in Pigeon Creek. What the fifth graders saw in the creek when they followed the wooded trail down from their school grounds on a sunny fall day in 1984 was muddy water. Scattered through it were bottles and cans, squashed Styrofoam cups, torn six-pack holders, old tires, and a lot of other junk. Along the banks were a broken-down refrigerator, a set of bedsprings, and some smashed cardboard cartons.

Table of Contents

Where Did All the Salmon Go?

Operation Pigeon Creek

The Fish That Went to School

"Good-bye, Good-bye"

The Journey

Come Back, Salmon

Glossary

Index

Editorial Reviews

Subtitled "how a group of dedicated kids adopted Pigeon Creek and brought it back to life," this story follows a group of Washington state fifth graders and their teacher who adopt a polluted stream. Packed into this blow-by-blow account are examples of accomplishment, the life cycle of salmon, and startling before and after photos.

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

Although Pigeon Creek flows into Washington's beautiful Puget Sound, before it was adopted and cleaned up by Mr. Jackson's fifth grade class, it was so full of trash that you could barely see the water, let alone any fish. Just about everyone in Jackson Elementary, led by the dedicated fifth grade, helped to clean the creek and restock it with baby salmon. Throughout the project the kids learned a great deal about the ecology of the stream and the needs and life cycle of the Coho salmon. And even though many people told them the salmon would never return to Pigeon Creek, they were successful. The many colored photographs and drawings enhance the lively text, which is informal, informational and inspiring. Includes index and glossary. Orbis Pictus Award winner and a Horn Book Fanfare award.

Children's Literature - Gisela Jernigan

Don't miss this inspirational story of a determined group of kids who were so appalled by the junk-filled Pigeon Creek near their school in Everett, Washington that they took action to bring it back to life. This book describes the amazing work of these 5th graders who proved to their community and the politicians that people working together can make a difference. This book should be in every classroom.

Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman

Gr 4-6-- The story of how an elementary school in Washington state ``adopted'' a polluted stream that had once been a spawning ground for salmon. The children launched a major community effort to clean it up and, with the aid of grants, stocked an aquarium with salmon eggs from a state hatchery. The entire school was involved in caring for the eggs as they hatched, grew, and were eventually released into the now clean stream. It would be hard not to get caught up in the excitement and anxiety of the students as they wait for the fish to return to Pigeon Creek to spawn. Cone includes facts on the life cycle of the salmon in her clear, lively text, while Wheelwright's excellent illustrations and full-color photographs add to the overall quality of the presentation.-- Tina Smith Entwistle, Oakley Park Elem . School, Walled Lake, MI

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