The Fox and the Forest Fire, written and illustrated by Danny Popovici. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. 2021. $23.99 ages 5 and up

 

"Then one morning it’s strangely quiet.

I see a plume of smoke off in the distance.

I hurry to warn my mother.

And I wonder if we will ever see our home again.”

Climate change is wreaking havoc on the world. As that happens, the number of devastating forest fires is rising every year. I can't tell you how many days our air was impacted this summer by fires burning both near to and far from where we live. It has never been as bad as it has been this year. The severe drought has increased the possibility of these fires burning out of control. 

What about the impact for families living right where these fires are burning? In a note, the author explains that he spent one summer working with a forest firefighting crew. While there, he came to love the natural world, and the animals that lived there. Being from the city, he had no idea the impact that summer would have on him. When a recent fire burned near his own home, he felt compelled to do something for the animals that are often forced to escape to a home in residential areas. So, he wrote and illustrated this book. 

It concerns a young boy and his mother, who have recently moved from the city to a new home in a rural area. He isn't impressed with the quiet nights, the loud mornings, or the problems that roots, rocks, and bugs cause during hikes with his mother. The lure of nature has a real impact on him. Soon, he is spending his time outside studying rocks, exploring new places, and helping the animals he sees. He especially loves his encounters with a fox. 

All is well, until the day he spies a plume of smoke. He rushes to warn his mom. As he runs, so do the forest animals, among them his fox friend. It is a long wait before they return from the city to find there is no house left. But they return with a plan. While the forest heals and the animals do the same, the boy and his mother begin building a new life in the place they love. 

Timely and topical, this book has a promising tone. Readers will find comfort in seeing that both child and fox have survived to move forward, after being affected by great tragedy.