Thanks so much for coming to visit! I’m Laura Purdie Salas, and I write children’s books and poetry. Books saved my life as a kid, and I love creating fabulous children’s books today–for all the kids who wonder, worry, laugh, learn, explore, and escape through reading. Like I did.

Like I still do.

I’m a visiting author, a storytime presenter, a writing teacher, and a freelance writer. Personally, I’m someone who’s still awed by the first snowfall of the year. Who gets excited about a good cupcake. Who can stare at a tree or the moon for a long time. I adore sunrises, science, and stories. I know nothing’s perfect, and we have to work for a better world. But I also believe that savoring what’s already incredible about our world makes every day better. And I know that reading small books and poems makes me feel more connected, hopeful, and grateful. I bet it can make you feel the same way.

—Laura

Autumn Cupcake

My Latest Books

What’s New in May?

I’m…

  • recovering from National Poetry Month! You can see my project wrap-up here.
  • celebrating that Finding Family is an Honor Book for the Star of the North readers choice award!
  • revising a set of four board books to start submitting.
  • participating in a panel with Tae Keller and Nell Cross Beckerman at the SLJ Day of Dialog (educators, it’s free!).
  • prepping for NCTE-NCTM in June, where I’ll be co-presenting about shape-based picture books.
  • writing poems based on Celtic folklore with students at SparkPath’s Young Authors Conference.
  • learning pickleball (again, but that’s another story).
  • trying to offer more phone/text support to my sister who provides a lot of care for my elderly dad (a health crisis prompted an unexpected trip to Florida last month).

Happy May to you!

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