About Me

Many authors I meet knew from an early age that they wanted to make books. Not me. But books were still the biggest treasure of my childhood…

As a kid in Winter Park, Florida, I devoured books. My big sisters, Gail, Patty, and Janet, taught me to read as we played school. I read for hours every day, often in this comfy flowered chair.

My parents were super strict, and my home wasn’t that happy. Thank goodness for sisters, libraries, and books! Books entertained me, kept me company, and showed me the whole world–a bigger, different world. They were my best friends. In fact, books were so magical that it never occurred to me that actual people wrote them.

I’m the small one in front.

Besides reading and spying on my sisters, I spent my free time biking, swimming, and “training” family pets, from our dog, Trixie, to Crazy Legs, our rabbit. My family hiked on the Appalachian Trail and skied a few times in Colorado and California. I loved exploring the world–and I still do!

Me with Trixie

I got good grades in school, but I didn’t actually realize that writing could be fun! That didn’t happen until college, where I discovered creative writing. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, I became an editor and writer for grown-ups before teaching English and rediscovering my love for children’s books. When my husband, Randy, and I moved to Minnesota and had two daughters, I fell in love with picture books. I’ve never looked back.

I still love writing picture books, and Randy and our daughters, Annabelle and Maddie, have provided plenty of inspiration over the years!

A 4th-grade recipe
Here are some other things I love…
…and here are some things I don’t love.

Click to enlarge a photo, and then right click to download the hi-res image.

For the Press

Short Bios (50–70 words)

For children’s events: Minnesota author Laura Purdie Salas has written more than 135 books, including Lion of the Sky, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten, and Snowman-Cold=Puddle. Laura loves nature, donuts, and playing with words. She also loves to get kids excited about reading and writing. For more info, please visit laurasalas.com.

For educators’ events: Former teacher Laura Purdie Salas knows small picture books and poems can make a huge impact. She’s written more than 135 books for kids, including Lion of the Sky (Kirkus Best Books; Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year), the Can Be… series (Bank Street Best Books; IRA Teachers’ Choice), and BookSpeak! (Minnesota Book Award; NCTE Notable). Laura loves sharing inspiration and practical tips with educators. laurasalas.com

For writers’ events: Laura Purdie Salas has written more than 135 books for kids, including Zap! Clap Boom!, If You Were the Moon, Water Can Be…, and BookSpeak! Her books have earned the Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notables, starred reviews, and more. She offers resources for children’s writers at https://laurasalas.com/writing-for-children/. She loves sharing her experiences (warts and all), process, and insights with children’s writers both online and in person. laurasalas.com

Longer Bio (250 words)

Laura Purdie Salas is a former English teacher turned children’s author and poet. Laura’s written more than 135 books for kids, including Lion of the Sky (Kirkus Best Books and Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year), the Can Be… series (Bank Street Best Books, IRA Teachers’ Choice), and BookSpeak!  (Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notable). Laura’s passion is picture books, and she especially loves writing poetry and nonfiction.

Laura was born and raised in Florida, but she and her husband, Randy, moved to Minnesota shortly after college. She loves experiencing all four seasons (yes, winter too!). While reading with her daughters, Annabelle and Madeleine, Laura fell in love with picture books. Books had been her best friends when she was a child, and she loves to contribute to the world of children’s books as an adult. Poetry and nonfiction are her favorite genres, but she’s always trying new things.

Laura regularly visits schools in person and virtually in order to get kids excited about reading and writing. She’s also a frequent library storytime presenter. As a former classroom educator, she loves talking with teachers and librarians and attends national conferences to connect with them and share her books.

When Laura’s not reading or writing, you can find her wandering outdoors, knitting, playing kalimba, and doodling. She’s good at only one of those four things! She also loves watching baking competition shows, eating sweets, and playing board games and word games with her family. Visit Laura online at laurasalas.com.

Zap! Clap! Boom!

Starred Booklist review; Shelf Awareness Best Books of the Week; Blueberry Award Honor Book; Betsy Bird’s 31 Days, 31 Lists (Picture Book Readalouds and Rhyming Picture Books)

Puddle Song

School Library Journal starred review; named a Great Board Books of 2023 by Betsy Bird; Baby Blueberry — Best Nature Board Books of 2023

Finding Family

Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book; CCBC Best Books of 2024; Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; Minnesota Book Award Finalist; California Reading Association: Eureka! Gold Medal; 2024 ALSC Summer Reading List; Minnesota Star of the North Nominee

If You Want to Knit Some Mittens

Nominated by Tennessee librarians for the Volunteer State Book Award

Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten

Complex Chinese edition

Secrets of the Loon

Winner of the 2021 Riverby Award for nature writing; 2020 Bank Street Best Books; Jeanette Fair Book Award Nominee; Northeast Minnesota Book Award Nominee

Lion of the Sky

Booklist starred review; Kirkus starred review; Parents Magazine Best Kids’ Books of 2019; Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2019; Horn Book‘s Top Ten Books for Summer Reading; NCTE Poetry Notables; Center for Children’s Books Gryphon Honor Book

Snowman-Cold=Puddle

Junior Library Guild selection; New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids 2019; NCTE Poetry Notables; Korean edition; bilingual Chinese edition

In the Middle of the Night

NCTE Poetry Notables

Meet My Family!

Wisconsin State Reading Association Picture This pick

If You Were the Moon

Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Primary Book; finalist for the 2018 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize in Science Children’s Books; New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017; Scholastic Book Club Edition; Japanese edition;  Texas Library Association Texas Topaz Reading List for nonfiction gems

Water Can Be…

Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended title; starred reviews in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly; Minnesota Book Award Finalist; Texas Library Association’s 2×2 List; ALSC’s Building Steam with Dia book list; Houston ISD Name That Book Contest; RIF’s 2015 Multicultural Booklist; Nerdy Award for Poetry; Finalist for KRA’s Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award; Chinese, Korean, and Thai Editions

A Leaf Can Be…

Bank Street Best Books; IRA Teachers’ Choice; NCTE Notable Children’s Book; Minnesota Book Award Finalist; Scholastic Book Club selection; Riverby Award for Nature Books for Young Readers; SCBWI Golden Kite Honor Book; Finalist for KRA’s Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award; Scholastic Book Club Edition; Chinese, Korean, and Thai Editions

BookSpeak! Poems About Books

Minnesota Book Award; NCTE Notables; Bank Street Best Books; Librarians’ Choice; Eureka! Gold Medal; Honor Book – Gelett Burgess Award; White Ravens; Nerdy Award for Poetry

Stampede! Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School

Minnesota Book Award Finalist; Honor Book, Paterson Prize for Books for Young People

Write Your Own Poetry

Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award Winner

Eight Great Planets!

American Astronautical Society Eugene M. Emme Jr. Award

Picture Yourself Writing Poetry

International Reading Association Teachers′ Choices List; TriState Young Adult Review Committee Books of Note

If it’s a word-related task, especially in the areas of poetry, nonfiction, children’s projects, and education, I’ve probably done it or would like to try it! Here are some of the areas I have experience in.
 
  • Work-for-hire books for the educational market (more than 100 titles)
  • Assessment passages (more than 500 passages over many years–mostly for K‑5)
  • Item writing
  • Developing teacher materials
  • Copyediting
  • Proofreading
  • Manuscript critiques
  • Writing poetry for choral compositions
  • Writing magazine and newspapers articles
  • Teaching (I’m a former 8th-grade English teacher, and I’ve taught adults interested in writing for kids)
 
I’m always happy to talk about tackling a new project. Just visit my Contact Page to get in touch. Thanks!
 
 

Here’s a link to hi-res covers for my various books. Just download what you need!

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