Selina: An Atlantic Salmon

Dr. Don Downer

The book, written for 10-to 12-year-olds, is a fictional account of the life of an Atlantic salmon that is based on its actual life cycle. Its purpose is to teach children about the life cycle, habits and habitat of this important marine fish species that has recently been included on the endangered list for the state of Maine and which has been severely reduced in numbers in Atlantic Canadian waters.

The approach in the book is based on the author's belief, developed over many years of teaching people of all ages, that if children can understand and appreciate the importance of such an organism, we have nothing to worry about when they become adults. Events in the life of the salmon begin with the egg stage inside the river substrate and move to the return of the adult fish to the river tributary of its birth to spawn almost five years later.

The University College of Cape Breton Press published Dr. Don Downer's Selina: An Atlantic Salmon late last year. Gisele LeBlanc provided colour illustrations for the book and Goose Lane of Toronto laid it out.