Fire!

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

Fire is an essential part of a forest’s life cycle. This picture book
documents that cycle, from the quiet stillness of a hot day in the
forest, though the event of fire, followed by rain, to the rebirth and
return of active life. Readers learn all about the essential elements of
fire ecology (the heat, lack of moisture, buildup of fuel, lightning,
and the ladder effect of vegetation at the edge of a clearing) as well
as what happens to the players (vegetation is renewed, animals and birds
that left the forest return, animals that burrowed to safety beneath the
soil come out). Forest ecosystems are resilient in the face of fire.

The simple text is clear and easy to understand. But it is the pictures
that tell the story. Celia Godkin’s two-page illustrations of the
plants and animals, weather events, and fire engage all the senses. You
hear the crack of lightning, feel the rain, see the fear in the fleeing
animals. Specific plants and animals are detailed in circular insets,
without detracting from the whole. Two wonderful summaries—the fire
cycle and species recovery—complete the book. The author’s note on
the final page cites several websites for parents and teachers looking
for further information. Highly recommended.