Salmon Run: An epic journey to the ocean and back

Salmon Run: An epic journey to the ocean and back is a beautiful breathtaking book on the life of a Coho salmon and her life cycle.

We follow the entire life cycle of a pacific salmon, more specifically the Coho salmon. From egg to smolt to a spawning adult, we see how they grow and follow their journey from the river they come from to the wide open ocean and back again. The text is written easy enough, that one can figure out the meaning of a word if its unfamiliar. I really like how there is a time span for each part of the life cycle, making Salmon Run a great read for fish lovers wanting to learn more about this specific species.

The illustrations are beautiful. They coincide with the text very well, bringing the authors descriptions of the Coho to life. It was fun to not only read about life cycle, but to SEE it.

In the backmatter, readers will find an authors note as well as a more straight forward timeline of the salmon life cycle. Readers will also find a QR code, or website address, that links you to a page with more educational resources, such as a glossary and what it means to be a keystone species.


This keystone species of fish makes an incredible journey throughout their lives, and Salmon Run does a wonderful job of highlighting what makes them so special. Perfect for budding biologist or fish lovers!

Salmon Run follows a Pacific coho salmon along her journey from the freshwater rivers of Washington State to the Pacific Ocean, and back again to give birth and start the cycle all over again. This Pacific coho salmon goes through five life stages throughout this story, from egg to alevin, to fry, to smolt, and ending with adult. Throughout her journey, she looks for food, escapes predators, and experiences various marine environments.

What I Liked: This book begins by introducing you to the Pacific coho salmon and then goes into the various stages of her life. Its illustrations are vibrant and realistic, making it feel like you are following a documentary detailing the salmon’s life. It's fascinating to see everything that this fish encounters throughout its life and in a short time period.

What Left me Wanting More: There are several instances in this book in which I had to squint to read, as the illustrations and font were blending into one another. Some pages were done in a manner where the font and illustrations were separated, which made it easier to follow along and read the text.

This book is listed for children ages 5 and up, but the narration in this story is one that a younger audience might not find captivating. It reads like you are watching a documentary, and a younger audience might not be attuned to this tone. Children ages 6 and up might find more value in this book, and children who are captivated by marine life will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Final Verdict: Salmon Run is a fascinating book with beautiful illustrations that introduces children to the life of a Pacific coho salmon and its journey. Children who are interested in marine life will be captivated by this book, and adults will enjoy learning more about the Pacific coho salmon’s life stages and journey.