The salamander room lesson plans

The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer

Ha! My adult mind had me befuddled. I was expecting a different ending, and perhaps I’d have preferred a different ending. Yet, this book is practically perfect in every way.

A young boy finds a salamander in the wild and wants to keep him. He has answers to every question posed to him by his mother about how he will create the perfect environment for the salamander, and for himself too. The story does a good job of showing the interconnectedness of various animal and plant life in an ecosystem. This story is whimsical and funny and sweet. The boy’s imagination and caring is wonderful.

The illustrations are gorgeous, really special. The habitat gets more and more elaborate as more concerns need to be addressed. I can’t say enough good things about the pictures.

I think the final design of the salamander’s room will make clear to kids the feasibility of keeping a salamander as an indoor animal companion; I don’t think any extra major educational endeavor is necessary, but this book could act as a springboard for such a discussion.

I always hate to say this, but in this case it’s so true: This is a book that’s great for both boys and girls, but is one likely to be enjoyed by boys who turn up their noses at many other books.