Helga the Hellbender

In this educational and engaging picture book, children and adults will meet Helga, a hellbender salamander, as she investigates the disappearance of their homey rock pile.

Meet Helga: a vibrant and stunning hellbender salamander. She and other hellbenders live together on a wonderful pile of rocks. Unfortunately, one day, the rocks go missing! Where is their home?

Embark with Helga and her trusty sidekick, a park ranger, as she investigates what happened. Soon, Helga will unravel all the unexpected events that led to the disappearance of her home. Will she be able to follow all the clues and restore peace to her neighborhood? You'll have to read to find out!

Helga the Hellbender is a perfect pick for early readers. Its gorgeous illustrations and interesting plot keep kids interested - and the facts about giant hellbender salamanders and their habitats give children a better understanding of their impacts on the environment. Specifically, it teaches more about the most common places to find these creatures - the local streams and rivers of the Eastern United States - and how knowing how our actions can affect wildlife that habitats areas humans frequent.

Intended for children under 10, Helga the Hellbender is a wonderful bookshelf addition in homes, schools, and nurseries.

Erica grew up in North Carolina, where she had a great love for the wild outdoors and its diverse wildlife. She always had a hobby interest in learning more about the animals that surrounded her while she was outside. One day, while visiting a swimming hole in Boone, NC, she saw a creature she had never seen before, a giant salamander. At first, Erica was alarmed, but she went on to research these creatures, which are known as hellbenders. She became fascinated with their unique appearance and everything they could teach us about the health of the ecosystems they live in. Erica hopes that her book will raise awareness about the importance of leaving the homes of the wildlife we play around both untouched and clean, especially since Western North Carolina's rivers and streams are more popular than ever.