Simone, written by Viet Thanh Nguyen and illustrated by Minnie Phan. Astra, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"I grabbed my go-bag. Food, Band-Aids,
flashlight, clothes. But what about all 
the things I love? 

Let's go, Simone! 

I can't decide! 

Bring some books!
We've got to go, baby. 
Isn't this your favorite toy? 

I love all my books. But I couldn't 
take them all. 
I'll be back for you ... " 

Simone is sound asleep and dreaming about floating in the ocean when her mother startles her awake with the news that they have to leave. Fire in near, and they must evacuate. They have made preparations for such an occurrence. Simone has a go-bag, but there is so much she must leave behind her. 

Outside, the noise is terrifying and the constant action is upsetting. She knows it is 'real life'. As they drive away, she notices firefighters dressed in yellow and California prisoners dressed in orange jumpsuits working to help keep everyone safe. 

"They did bad things? 

Maybe, 
but now they're doing good things."

As she and her mother travel beyond the reach of the fire, those men are heading right into it. As they go, her mother tells her that she has been evacuated before; that time it was a flood in Vietnam where she was born. She was only a child and all she had were her crayons. There was water everywhere. 

Arriving at the shelter brings more surprises; people, beds, kids and pets. Everyone is scared. Simone thinks about her mother, the water, and the fight to survive. What can Simone do right now? She, too, has her crayons and a love for drawing.  She invites the other children to join her. 

"Draw me your house. 
Let's see how 
beautiful it is." 

It takes a while before they can leave the shelter, but Simone and her mother are among the lucky ones. They do get to go home. 

An author's note speaks to the bravery of the 18,000 firefighters who protected the people of California while wildfires raged there in 2020. The dangers from fires are being felt across the world. Children, when given a chance, can find positivity and hope for a better future. 

"It's up to us ... 
We'll be the firefighters!" 

Using graphite, colored pencil, and watercolor for her brilliant artwork, Minnie Phan focuses attention on a sense of community and working together while facing disaster rather than the fear that people face in a circumstance that is becoming all too common.