The Salamander King, Book One: "Just Like Grandpa taught Me"

This is a story about ten year old Wayne who is befriended by Newton, a rather large red eft phase salamander, who also needs his help because toxic chemicals have been dumped into the pond he calls home. Newton is also having a problem with the town's bullies... that Wayne knows all too well! The book was written by Richard Perkins from Maine, illustrated by twenty year old Anh Bui from California, professionally edited by Melanie Lopata and re-published in March of 2022. What led Richard to writing his first children's book was, "As a small child who spent summer in Lake Luzerne, NY where the story takes place, I fell in love with amphibians and reptiles and was also bullied in school. Those real life experiences are at the heart of this series."