The Atlantic Salmon

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-- Here is an outstanding photo essay, on a less-than-personable animal, that offers a fascinating look at a cycle of life not yet fully understood by scientists. The lack of an index or a table of contents reduces the ease with which it could be used for reports, but the readability of the text makes it an ideal choice for those needing to do a nonfiction book report, or for nature lovers of any age. Lavies's exquisite underwater photographs are startingly clear and detail each stage of the salmon's life. The direct text merges smoothly with the uncaptioned full-color photographs to tell a dramatic tale of struggle and survival. The relationship between the animal and its environment, between the salmon population and human pollution, emerges subtly as the fish migrate from fresh to salt water and back again. The final note and photograph, explaining the author's homemade contraption for underwater photography, add human interest to this real-life adventure story of mystery and wonder. --Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Breathtaking underwater photographs and a lucid text describe the arduous journey made by this hearty fish. Nature photography at its finest; factual description at its best. (Apr. 1992)