A wildfire roars!
When fire swallows the forest, it leaves nothing but ashes until seeds sprout from deep below. Root by root and seed by seed, the forest rises again. In this lyrical cumulative nonfiction story about forest succession, readers will learn that forest fires are critical to forest health and that the end of a tree's life provides the opportunity for new life. Back matter explains the timeline of the forest cycle in more detail.
"The words, illustrations, and nonfiction features provide the perfect resource for poetry, writing, art, science, geography, agriculture, and social studies lessons for elementary and middle school students." – Children's Literature
"Beautifully drawn nature scenes encourage deep visual exploration of different habitats as the land changes after an all-consuming fire." ―Virginia Wildlife Magazine
2023 Eureka! Honor Award
CYBILS Nonfiction Award nominee
Blueberry Honor Award
Available From
Educator packet for THE GLORIOUS FOREST THAT FIRE BUILT can be found under the Resources for Educators TAB
A spring refrain! A salamander rain!
Salamanders and children alike hear the rhythms and song of the seasons as winter gives way to spring. Salamanders begin to squirm and stretch in the early spring sun, while the children and their teacher plan. They meet on a night of salamander rain (the first warm rain of spring), when the children and their teacher work to help the salamanders cross a busy road to the vernal pool on the other side. This lyrical, parallel narrative story reinforces the idea that kids can make a big difference. The author's note includes information about amphibian migrations and descriptions of citizen science activities that kids can participate in to help keep the world wild and beautiful. Full-color illustrations
Available From
Educator Guide for SALAMANDER SONG available under Resources for Educators Tab.
Soar with geese. Float with spiderlings.
Fly in the jet stream and local winds with butterflies and other travelers who ride air currents to new places. In this lyrical nonfiction poem, readers will gain an appreciation for the forces of nature while learning how wind brings changes of weather, carries migrating animals, and helps spread seeds. Science-themed back matter includes a graph that compares how high things travel on the wind and an experiment about how seeds spread on the wind.
"A lyrical glimpse at a natural phenomenon and its essential functions." -Kirkus Reviews