Safe Crossing

By (author) Percival, Kari
Short description/annotation:

2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Book

How does an amphibian cross the road? With the help of the Amphibian Migration Team! Learn all about a citizen scientist who acts as a crossing guard for migrating amphibians and helps build them a tunnel to safety in this delightful nonfiction picture book!

Description:

2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Book

How does an amphibian cross the road? With the help of the Amphibian Migration Team! Learn all about a citizen scientist who acts as a crossing guard for migrating amphibians and helps build them a tunnel to safety in this delightful nonfiction picture book!

From Kari Percival, Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author of How to Say Hello to a Worm, comes an entertaining and informative children’s book perfect for curious, nature-loving young readers.

Every spring, frogs and salamanders must travel from wooded uplands where they were born to vernal pools where they will mate. Unfortunately, roads constructed through their habitats have made the journey dangerous for these slow-moving animals. Many never reach their destinations. But with the help of the Amphibian Migration Team, there is hope for a safe crossing!

Readers will learn so much about amphibians and their habitats and get a great introduction to civic participation, too. The citizen scientist at the heart of this story presents her proposal for a wildlife tunnel to her local City Council and coordinates with stakeholders in the process like a wildlife biologist, a herpetologist, a roadway engineer, a surveyor, the Conservation Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Transportation, contractors, and reporters. It’s a fascinating way to find out how local government works and how kids can actively create social change. 

Playful and educational, Safe Crossing offers an empowering example of how even the youngest citizens can raise awareness about a meaningful cause, drive change, and unite people locally and globally.
Review quote:

“Informative and beautiful.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Review quote:

“[A]n inspiring and aspirational choice for youngsters looking to get more involved with bettering the world around them.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books

Review quote:

“Sumptuous in text and image… Percival celebrates the wonder of biodiversity—every pictured creature is marquee-worthy

—alongside the passion and hard work that animate conservation efforts.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Review quote:

“Gently encourages kids to volunteer within their own communities.” — Booklist

Review quote:

“Young eco-activists looking for an ambitious but doable local project will find both useful informational guidelines and inspiration here.” — School Library Journal

Review quote:

“Author-illustrator Kari Percival awakens children’s curiosity… Safe Crossing is an exciting, informative call to action for budding scientists and environmental activists.” — Bookpage, Starred Review

Review quote:

“This book [is] as informative as it is beautifully illustrated and designed.” — The Horn Book Review

Review quote:
A BookPage Best Picture Book of 2025
Review quote:
A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2025
Review quote:
A PEN America Best Book of 2025
Biographical note:
Kari Percival is an award-winning author, illustrator, and former science teacher. She has a Master’s degree in environmental science with a certification in science teaching from Antioch University New Eng