Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman; Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025.

In this stunningly-crafted novel in verse, Geetha is new to the United States. As she navigates a swirl of feelings, develops friendships, and manages school and family challenges, Geetha’s love of music and nature, and her connection to rescue efforts to save an injured seal become catalysts for growth, acceptance, and a sense of home.

Why this book? Why will it matter to kids?

Inspired by Padma’s doctorate in oceanography, Safe Harbor features a girl who aids in the rescue of a stranded seal. But there’s more than that in this multi-layered novel in verse. There’s acclimating to a new country, finding and building friendship, facing bullies, seeking solace in music and nature, healing from the pangs of divorce, and navigating the difficulties of a parent’s mental illness.

Why read aloud?

We gather to share a book. We settle into a safe space as we interact with the book. We talk and reflect, exchanging thoughts, exploring concepts, building background knowledge—and community. When read-aloud sessions are routine, children become comfortable voicing their perspectives. They grow in active listening skills and learn to respect the thoughts, feelings, experiences, and beliefs of others. When we (educators, parents, and caregivers) select age-appropriate, length-appropriate stories based on needs and abilities, we offer children the opportunity to see themselves, see others, find validation, and contemplate solutions to conflicts and challenges that they may not have considered.

Read-aloud sessions are inclusive: there is no reading skills or level barrier, and learning obstacles are mitigated by preparation prior to reading the book aloud. In a read-aloud session there is immersion as well as the comfort of distance from the challenges the characters encounter.

Reading aloud engages listeners, offering a positive, secure, stress-free “learning without struggle” experience grounded in a book, the value of which cannot be overestimated.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.” ~  James Baldwin

Levels and Layers of Learning

Grade level: 4—7

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Acceptance, connection, courage, creativity, curiosity, dedication, diligence, effort,  empowerment, encouragement, fortitude, friendship, generosity of spirit, gratitude, hope, inspiration, integrity, kindness, perseverance, persistence, perspective, relationship skills, resilience, resourcefulness, respect, responsibility, responsible decision-making, self-assurance, self-awareness, self-management, self-reliance, social awareness, tenacity, understanding

Content Area Connections: Social-Emotional Learning, Science, Music, Community

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Safe Harbor trailer reel on Instagram

How to pronounce Padma’s name

How to pronounce main character Geetha’s name

Listen to Padma reading “Safe Spaces” from Safe Harbor (pg. 57).

Find extensive resources for Safe Harbor on Padma’s website.

Learn more about Padma.

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

“[There is} a deep connection between how students read, write, and communicate, and how they develop socially and emotionally.”  ~  Justina Schlund, Director of Field Learning for CASEL

Geetha and Miguel both find comfort in the library. What is a special place for you? Why?

Geetha finds solace in playing music. How do you find calm or peace?

Geetha and Miguel both have interests and skills that make them special. What is one special thing about you?

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

Reflect on a few facts you learned as a result of reading Safe Harbor.

Choose one of the resources listed in the back of the book or on Padma’s website that sparks an interest. Dig deeper and learn more. Write about what you find out.

Writing Prompt  suggested on Padma’s website following the text of the Safe Spaces poem

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into the framework of the school day. These brief moments can signal change, smooth or frame transitions—from beginning or ending the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to shifting from one subject to the next. Poetry breaks can reset mood or tone, providing a moment to pause, reflect, and breathe. Reading a poem aloud typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, provide clarity, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, spark imagination, or simply summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes and strengthens the spirit.

“Poetry builds resilience in kids and adults; it fosters Social and Emotional Learning. A well-crafted phrase or two in a poem can help us see an experience in an entirely new way.” ~  Elena Aguilar

Newly Released Poetry Collection

• Cows and Sheep and Chicks That Cheep: Farm Poems by Douglas Florian

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Find information about seal rescues, seal habitats, global warming effects on sea animals and more on Padma’s website resources page

Find resources for help with facing parental mental health challenges and bullying at the back of the book and on Padma’s website.

Listen to Padma reading an excerpt from Safe Harbor.

Find a variety of activities related to Safe Harbor on Padma’s website: 

Safe Harbor Bingo Card

Safe Harbor coloring sheet (created by Jennifer LaGarde) 

Safe Harbor connections puzzle (created by Jennifer LaGarde) 

Safe Harbor virtual world tour (created by Jennifer LaGarde) 

Safe Harbor chatterbox (created by Jennifer LaGarde) 

Book Collection Suggestions

Newly Released Novels in Verse

•  Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner
• The Poetry of Car Mechanics by Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Children’s Book Corner posts featuring novels in verse:

• Eb & Flow
• Garvey’s Choice graphic novel in verse
• Tell My Why the Jack Pine Grows hi-lo middle grade novel in verse

Have a title to suggest? Scroll down to add it in the Comments section at the end of this post.

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Meet the Author

Padma Venkatraman

Padma Venkatraman is the author of The Bridge Home, Born Behind Bars, A Time to Dance, Island’s End, and Climbing the Stairs. Her books have sold over ¼ million copies, received over 20 starred reviews, and won numerous awards: Walter Dean Myers Award, South Asia Book Award, Golden Kite, ALA Notable, etc. Her poetry has appeared in Poetry Magazine and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. “An exquisite novel in verse by one of my favorite poets,” says Newbery honor winner, Margarita Engle, about Padma’s novel, Safe Harbor, which School Library Journal called a “must read” in a starred review. When she’s not writing, Padma loves teaching and sharing her love for reading, writing and science. Visit Padma’s website to download free teacher and writer resources and arrange an event via speaking agency, The Author Village. 

Backstory: Q & A with Padma Venkatraman

As soon as I turned the last page in Safe Harbor, I sat down to reach out to Padma. I wanted to feature this beautifully conceived and impeccably crafted novel in verse on Children’s Book Corner. To my delight, Padma answered within minutes. She has been gracious, enthusiastic in our collaboration, and intentional as she answered my questions about the creation of this novel. I’m pleased to share those responses with you here.

Judy Bradbury: Tell us about this project: What seeded its creation? How did you conceive of the story’s arc?

Padma Venkatraman: I was walking along the beach near my home in Rhode Island one day when I came across a seal that was up higher on the beach than is normal. I was about to call the marine mammal hotline when that seal returned to the water. But as it disappeared into the waves, a story appeared in my mind. I saw two kids, an Indian American immigrant and the son of Mexican immigrants trying to save a stranded seal that was nearly strangling in plastic trash.

JB: What inspired connecting the themes of the healing power of music with a seal rescue as threads in the storyline?

PV: I’m so thrilled you picked up on that. I wanted to have something in the story that went beyond science, something that honored the fact that many ancient cultures have had ways to connect with nature and animals that are wholistic approaches. In India we have the phrase “vasudaiva kuttumbakam” which means the whole of creation is one family–-all living beings included in that phrase–and  music is Geetha’s way of internalizing that phrase. It’s also a way to honor the idea that ancient cultures (including Indians) were environmentalists before the word was invented!

JB: Two other threads in the story involve school bullies and a mom fighting mental illness. At the back of the book you offer a list of resources for readers seeking help. In the Author’s Note you share your personal experiences with both bullies and mental illness. Tell us how you developed these threads as you wrote this story.

PV: I was bullied by my school mates as a child–and that was hard. Like Geetha I took refuge in writing poetry, music, nature and libraries. It was important to me to show resilience in Geetha. I also wanted to show a kid who was part of the bullying circle at first (like Lemon Curl girl) who is actually shy and nice but who happens to be friends with others who bully. I think it’s inspiring for kids to see someone who is afraid to stand up to their own friends when they’re doing something wrong–and then gets over that fear and does move away from old friends to make new ones, like Lemon Curl girl does in Safe Harbor.

As for mental illness it’s vital to me to show positive portrayals of adults who live with mental illness and manage it successfully and are great adults–like the mom in Safe Harbor. We’re doing a great job of showing kids with mental health issues in books but still have way too many negative portrayals of adults with mental health issues in kidlit. We need to change messaging on that one.

JB: Tell us about a challenge you faced in the creation of Safe Harbor, or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the writing of the book.

PV: I think one challenge that took me by surprise is that Safe Harbor was censored already by a school in Washington state! The school loved it and was planning for it to be their one school one book read, then wrote to me to say they’d done a last-minute switch because they were afraid to use a book that had two protagonists with immigrant backgrounds! They said they feared immigration was too “triggering” ! Imagine that–a school in our nation that wanted to avoid any reference to immigrants or immigration and preemptively chose not to use a book for that reason! That’s one of the reasons I have been a vocal advocate of free speech–and I’m thrilled to share that I’m included in the star-studded anthology Banned Together, put together by Ashley Hope Pérez, an author I greatly admire and respect. 

JB: What is one unexpected joy that came from the creation of Safe Harbor?

PV: This book has brought me more fan mail already than any other book – including The Bridge Home! Quite a surprise! I think it’s because it’s very kid-friendly and it’s probably a bit lighter, even though it of course has some very serious topics like climate change and pollution and endangered animals, in addition to the themes you mentioned above, which are woven into the fabric of the story.

JB:  I was struck by the poetic beauty of your language throughout the book and the powerful emotions you evoke with such simple language elegantly arranged. One of the most touching poems for me is “Indians Don’t Nod” when Geetha shakes her head to indicate yes to her new friend Miguel’s invitation to visit the library with him. I learned that an Indian shakes their head to mean yes, and of course Geetha is misunderstood as having indicated no. What is one of your favorite poems or scenes in the book? Why?

PV: Yes! I love that scene, too! As you can imagine, when I was fresh off the boat, my head “nods” and “shakes” caused quite a bit of miscommunication! I love every poem, but my favorite one to read aloud and share is probably Safe Spaces, which is about Geetha’s love of public libraries. I always say I became a citizen because I think public libraries are an embodiment of the ideals America aspires to achieve.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the writing of Safe Harbor?

PV: Readers are always thrilled to know that I used to be an oceanographer before I became a writer! When I started my graduate program in oceanography, I was the only BIPOC female in my incoming graduate class!

JB: Who do you perceive your target audience to be and why?

PV: My target audience for Safe Harbor is a bit younger  than for my previous books – the younger end of middle grade and older elementary kids. I would have loved it as a 7 year old; I think 8-12 is a great age for it but it could run as young as 7 years old if it’s a read-aloud with an adult scaffolding and watching the story unfold together.

JB: What do you hope middle grade readers will take away from Safe Harbor? / What need(s) does this story satisfy?

PV: We all feel so overwhelmed by climate catastrophe and sometimes we don’t see the power we have to change things. Safe Harbor has a really important scene in which the kids discuss not merely small things they can do (like trash pickups) but also large things they can do to help preserve our green earth and our blue oceans (like lobbying and getting involved with politics and changing laws and inventing scientific solutions). That is so important to me–to empower young people. Also, I want them to know it’s not their problem to solve–we older ones are here to help, too. And we need to change our lifestyles and give up some comforts if we care about our environment and the creatures we share our earth with.

JB: How do you see Safe Harbor connecting to curriculum or being used in learning settings?

PV: So many curriculum connections – especially with Earth Day during Poetry Month – and hopefully on for the rest of the year. Scroll through the resources page for Safe Harbor on my website to find a coloring sheet, chatterbox, virtual round the world tour, and connections puzzle created by the awesome librarian Jennifer LaGarde and on DiverseVerse is a “Safe Harbor bingo activity card” and a couple of writing prompts and lesson starters for any teacher or librarian or educator who would like to use Safe Harbor with their students.  In addition anyone who likes can listen to an excerpt of me reading aloud from Safe Harbor.

JB: What do you remember about the first book that made an impact on you?

PV: I remember how magical it felt, knowing there was a movie playing in my mind, that I was directing. And realizing when I shut the book that in a way I had gone on a journey through the imagination with an author I’d never seen–who may not even be alive!

JB: What project(s) are you currently working on?

PV: Please send me your blessings because there are lot of things I’m up to! First, I’ve signed on to write the prequel to The Bridge Home with my legendary and longtime editor Nancy Paulsen at Penguin Random House. My first two picture books, Faraway Family and Strong as a Lotus should also be coming out in the next year or so from the Nancy Paulsen Books imprint! In addition, I’m working on my first nonfiction! 

Sidebar Spotlight New releases of note

Each month I receive several boxes of books to review from various publishers. As I read and peruse the books, I place them in two piles: those that I will consider featuring on the blog, and those that don’t fit the mission or theme of Children’s Book Corner blog for whatever reason. I highlight some of the books in the “possible” pile on Mondays (most weeks) on Instagram and Bluesky. Ultimately, I choose the one new release I will feature on my monthly blog post. Yet there are many terrific books I wish I could give a shout-out to, even if I can’t write an entire post about each one. So, Sidebar Spotlight is a means of giving a nod to new releases that, in my opinion, are noteworthy. I’ve linked each title to Bookshop so you can learn more. Happy reading, friends! And feel free to comment on these or other new books below.

Grumpy Monkey:Mom For A Day by Suzanne Lang, illustrated Max Lang: a recommended read aloud full of giggles and a well-deserved message about the busy job of being a mom. Read by together and enjoy the fun. Includes stickers, too!

Home by Matt De La Peña, illustrated by Loren Long is another keeper by this amazing duo (Love), filled with lyrical language, lush artwork, and messages of hope. Resplendent! Highly recommend; all ages.

Purple Up! We Salute Our Friends by Sarah Scheerger and illustrated by Leah Giles shines a light on April 15^th, Purple Up! Day, an annual recognition of children of military parents who make their own sacrifices while their parents serve our country. Grades K-2.

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News, Updates, & Items of Interest

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers has published an excellent activity kit for Trouble Dog, the book featured in March on Children’s Book Corner.

David L. Harrison, co-author of 40 Poems for 40 Weeks, featured in April on Children’s Book Corner, reports that his recorded columns @PoetryFrom Daily Life on YouTube are now live.

Under the For Educators tab on my website you will find educator guides I have developed for other authors’ books. See the latest guides  for Cortney Clio’s pictures books, Piper’s Pet Pursuit, The Lights That Stay, and Finally Home. These books with SEL themes are written for children ranging in age from 5-10.

I’m looking forward to being a featured speaker at the New York State Reading Association (NYSRA) annual statewide conference, being held November 9-11. I’ll be moderating a panel discussion titled, “Reach, Connect, Teach: SEL Books with Curriculum Tie-ins” and am delighted to be sharing the podium with outstanding K-12 authors, Catherine Cook-Cottone, Mylisa Larsen, Andrea Page, Alex Sanchez, and Arlene Schenker.

You can find everywhere my books and I will be on my Events page.

I recently updated my social media presence to omit one platform in which I am no longer interested. You can find me on Instagram and Bluesky as well as LinkedIn where I post about books, book-related items of interest, Little Free Libraries, and occasionally travel (exclusively on IG). I hope to see you there!

I am currently booking school visits and professional development sessions for 2025-2026.

Photo credit: Jody LaRose

Find information and contact me to discuss a visit tailored to meet your school’s needs.

A note from a teacher whose students I recently visited:

Thank you so much for coming to meet with my students. You were wonderful, answering their questions and explaining how you wrote the book. We all loved it! Here are some illustrated thank you notes the students made for you. Thank you again!

Read-aloud of a portion of Cayuga Island Kids Book 2, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek

Readers Theater, complete with props! 

And here’s a note I received after presenting “SEL-Related Children’s Books with Curriculum Tie-Ins” to teachers and librarians of Grades Pre-K—Grade 6:

Thanks so much for presenting! I heard wonderful things about your workshop! One person mentioned to me that you were so organized and passionate. They also loved seeing all the children’s books you brought with you!

Find my books packaged as a series at your favorite bookshop or purchase directly from the publisher and receive a gift with purchase! Individual titles are also available in hard, softcover, and e-book versions.

Kindness tip: If you read and like a book, consider posting a review on GoodReads, social media, or on Amazon (if you bought it there). Authors and illustrators appreciate the shout-out. Even a one-sentence comment increases visibility of a book. Also consider placing a request with your local library to purchase a copy–another free way to support a book you recommend!

As we come to the close of the school year, Children’s Book Corner will be on hiatus through the summer, returning in late August. Enjoy the longer days, starry nights, hammocks, shady tree spots, and all the wonders that can be found between the covers of a book. During the break, feel free to reach out to me with comments on any of the posts, or share a recommended title via the contact link. I’ll be checking in periodically. Happy summer, everyone, and thanks for joining me here at the Children’s Book Corner!

Over to You…

Join the conversation! Offer your thoughts related to this month’s post:

What novel in verse do you recommend? Share the title, author, and suggested age or grade range. 

You are also welcome to post a general comment.

Thanks for sharing!

Final Thought

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