Laura Purdie Salas

Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 100 books for children. Most of all, she loves to write poetry. Funny, serious, rhyming, free verse…she loves it all. Her newest poetry book is BookSpeak! Poems About Books (Clarion, 2011). It follows Stampede! Poems About the Wild Side of School (Clarion, 2009), a Finalist for the Minnesota Book Award. Her She has numerous poetry collections plus Write Your Own Poetry and Picture Yourself Writing Poetry with Capstone Press. Laura also writes nonfiction on various topics for a wide range of ages, and she has a new rhyming nonfiction book called A Leaf Can Be..., with stunning art by Violeta Dabija.

In the past, Laura worked as an 8th-grade teacher and an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. She enjoys speaking with adults, kids, and teachers about poetry and writing.

Most of the time, she’s either reading or writing. If she’s not, she’s probably playing board games or watching reality TV with her two daughters, Maddie and Annabelle, or hanging out with the Minnesota Brass drum corps with her husband, Randy. She and her family live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.




			A Leaf Can Be... illustrated by Violeta Dabija Millbrook, 2012 ages 5 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7613-6203-6 A leaf can be a...Shade spiller...Mouth filler...Tree topper...Rain stopper....Find out about the many roles leaves play in this poetic exploration of leaves throughout the year.



			BookSpeak! Poems About Books illustrated by Josee Bisaillon Clarion Books, 2011 ages 8 to 12, ISBN 978-0547223001 In BookSpeak!, each poem gives voice to a group that seldom gets a voice . . . the books themselves! Characters plead for sequels, book jackets strut their stuff, and we get a sneak peek at the raucous parties in the aisles when all the lights go out at the bookstore!Illustrator Josée Bisaillon’s mixture of collage, drawings, and digital montage presents page after page of richly colored spreads filled with action and charm. Together, Salas and Bisaillon deliver a unique collection brimming with ideas as much about spines and dust jackets as they are about adventure and imagination. Awards and Recognition Minnesota Book Award; NCTE Notable; Bank Street Best Books; Librarians' Choice; Honor Book - Gelett Burgess Center for Creative Expression; White Ravens book; Nerdy Book Award



			Picture Yourself Writing Poetry Using Photos to Inspire Writing Capstone Press, 2011 ages 8 to 12, ISBN 978-1429661249 Poetry is more than rhyming words on a page. A poem is crafted by carefully selecting each word and rhythm. But how does a poet get started? Finding inspiration is as easy as looking at a picture. Awards & Recognition IRA - 2012 Teachers' Choices



			Colors of Fall ISBN 978-1429652568 Colors of Insects ISBN 978-1429652551 Colors of the Ocean ISBN 978-1429652575 Colors of Sports ISBN 978-1429652599 Colors of Weather ISBN 978-1429652582 Are all bugs black? Are all clouds white? No! This fun set explores the wide range of colors found all around us, and it's full of facts about weather, nature, sports, and more! Colors All Around Series Capstone Press photo-illustrated books 2011, Grades PreK-2



			S Is for Score! A Sports Alphabet ISBN 978-1429632935 C Is for Cake! A Birthday Alphabet ISBN 978-1429639149 Y Is for Yak: A Zoo Alphabet ISBN 978-1429644655 J Is for Jingle Bells: A Christmas Alphabet ISBN 978-1429644631 These aren't your baby sister's ABC books! Alphabet Fun titles use high interest topics like pirates and pom poms to promote letter recognition for emergent readers. Fun facts on each subject provide satisfying content for kids who want to know about cool stuff! Alphabet Fun Series Capstone Press photo-illustrated books 2010, Grades K to 3



			Eight Great Planets!: A Song About the Planets ISBN 978-1404857650 Awards & Recognition 2010 Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award I'm Exploring with My Senses: A Song About the Five Senses ISBN 978-1404857643 Many Creatures: A Song About Animal Classification ISBN 978-1404857636 There Goes the Water: A Song About the Water Cycle ISBN 978-1404857667 With the emphasis on high-stakes science testing, Science Songs will provide a kid-friendly approach to science comprehension! Original lyrics to familiar tunes combine with lively illustrations to reinforce fundamental science facts. Exclusive website access to audio file included! Picture Window Books illustrated by Sergio De Giorgi 2010, Grades 1 to 3



			Y Is for Yowl! A Scary Alphabet ISBN 978-1429632928 A Is for Arrr! A Pirate Alphabet ISBN 978-1429632911 P Is for Pom Pom! A Cheerleading Alphabet ISBN 978-1429632935 Z Is for Zoom! A Race Car Alphabet ISBN 978-1429632942 These aren't your baby sister's ABC books! Alphabet Fun titles use high interest topics like pirates and pom poms to promote letter recognition for emergent readers. Fun facts on each subject provide satisfying content for kids who want to know about cool stuff! Alphabet Fun Series Capstone Press photo-illustrated books 2009, Grades K to 3



			Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School illustrated by Steven Salerno Clarion Books, 2009 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0618914883 These 18 funny and imaginative poems observe students in their natural habitat and reveal their unusual behavior, crazy communication, and very healthy appetites. Whether they’re in the classroom, on the playground, or in the cafeteria, school brings out the animal in all of them. And if you look carefully as you turn the pages, you may even glimpse some of the wild side in yourself! A teaching guide is available for this title. An activity sheet is available for this title. Awards and Recognition Finalist, Minnesota Book Award; Honor Book for 2010 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People



			Coral Reefs: Colorful Underwater Habitats illustrated by Jeff Yesh Picture Window Books, 2009 grades 1 to 3, ISBN 978-1404853737 Is a coral an animal or a plant? What kinds of animals and plants live in a coral reef? Why are coral reefs important to us? Swim through the pages of this book to find out why coral reefs are one of Earth’s treasures.



			Chatter, Sing, Roar, Buzz: Poems About the Rain Forest A+ Books/Capstone Press, 2008 grades 1 to 3, ISBN 978-1429617055 A collection of original, rain forest-themed poetry for children accompanied by striking photos. These books contain lots of snappy rhyming poems as well as several poetic forms. Clearing the Rain Forest here green, lush growing, reaching, breathing chattering, singing, roaring, buzzing slashing, burning, cutting, destroying brown, barren gone (diamante)



			A Fuzzy-Fast Blur: Poems About Pets A+ Books/Capstone Press, 2008 grades 1 to 3, ISBN 978-1429617048 A collection of original, pet-themed poetry for children accompanied by striking photos. These books contain lots of snappy rhyming poems as well as several poetic forms. Come in, Come in! I'll make it easy I'll open wide I'll hope that you will slide inside Snakes eat mice Some find that sad But here's the truth: They don't taste bad!

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