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Books to Read When... There's a Wildfire

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Just last week, there was a wildfire on the mountain near our library. When I was driving the night it started, several people had pulled off the side of the road to take pictures of it. When wildfires happen, and especially when you can see the flames from your home, it can be pretty scary but also fascinating. If you or any kids in your life want to learn more about wildfires after hearing about them on the news or at school, here's a list of five books that center around how wildfires happen and how people and animals respond to them.

By Albert Marrin
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. Informational. 240 pages.

What many people might not know, is that forest fires are a natural part of a forest's life cycle. Author Marrin explains that fires can remove dead trees and clear the forest floors, but mass-deforestation and humans trying to prevent small forest fires caused much larger and deadlier wildfires. This informational chapter book cites some of the worst wildfires in history and provides photos describing the scenes. Good for an in-depth look at why wildfires happen and how they can get worse.

Written by Dan Paley
Illustrated by Molly Mendoza
San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2023. Informational.

They Hold the Line is an informational picture book that is packed with information about the people who keep us safe from wildfires. It highlights the protective gear that keeps wildfire fighters safe, as well as defining terms that are used to describe wildfire management and containment. An excellent book for those who want detailed information paired with visual descriptions.

Written by Jessica Stremer
Illustrated by Michael Garland
New York: Holiday House, 2024. Informational. 122 pages.

Many plants and animals have methods to deal with forest fires and some even benefit from them, such as certain pine trees and beetles that need fire to reproduce. This book also describes how farm and zoo animals are evacuated from areas threatened by wildfire and how injured animals are treated. Stremer also mentions how wildfires can be prevented, especially through the indigenous practice of prescribed burns now used by wilderness firefighters.

By Caroline Starr Rose
New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025. Fiction. 237 pages.

In this middle-grade fiction, Opal lives with her mom and grandmother on the top of a fire tower in New Mexico. She and her family are responsible for noticing if there is any smoke so firefighters can stop it from getting out of control. The only problem: Opal is terrified of fire and has been since one claimed her father's life. When she's the only one to notice a fire starting, she'll have to face her fears to save everyone.

Written by Breena Bard
Illustrated by Breena Bard and Andrea Bell
New York: LB Ink/Little, Brown and Company, 2023. Comics. 271 pages.

Julianna and her family have just relocated after a wildfire caused by climate change and irresponsible firework use destroyed their home. She is struggling with grief surrounding losing her home and anger as one of the kids who was playing with fireworks has joined the same environmental conservation club as she. This graphic novel takes a compassionate look at the ways a wildfire tragedy affects a family and the actions individuals can take to rebuild.
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