Second grader Jasmine Crowell gave me the most amazing gift, a baby blue spotted salamander. He was the cutest and sweetest little salamander! The picture of me with the salamander was taken on the day I sent him back to his real home among the decaying leaves. I read The Salamander Room
to my students and then we drew pictures of salamanders. These colored pencil drawings were done by kindergartners. The book emphasizes that salamanders belong in the words, so I had Jasmine take him back to nature. I miss my little spotted friend, but the beautiful drawings are a wonderful reminder of him.
