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The Fox and the Forest Fire
A story of hope and friendship, in which resilience trumps tragedy in the wake of a forest fire.
After moving from the city, one boy discovers his new home in the woods isn't so bad—there is friendship in the midst of the forest. But when he spots a fire on the horizon that soon engulfs everything he's come to know—the bugs, the plants, the fox who keeps him company—he is forced to flee. When his newfound comfort goes up in smoke, how can he ever feel at home again?
In a forest fire, so much can change in an instant. But both fox and boy learn that there are some things fire cannot burn. With time, the forest will regrow, the animals will return to their home, and so will the boy and his mom.
As we all search for tools for understanding the destruction of forest fires, this touching story shows that hope, friendship, and resilience shine the brightest.
TIMELY: As fires rage over a wider swath of the United States and internationally, and as fire season lengthens year after year, and sets new records year after year, these are themes communities are engaging with daily during fire season.
WRITTEN BY A FIREFIGHTER: The author-illustrator was a volunteer firefighter, giving him a unique perspective on the topic of forest fires.
EMOTIONALLY RESONANT: This moving story ends with rebuilding—both for humans and for nature—and with a truly uplifting message of resilience.
COMMUNITY-BUILDING: A wonderful resource for families and communities experiencing the aftermath of a fire or other natural disasters, as well as anyone looking to empathize with, and better understand, those communities in need.
CLASSROOM RESOURCE: Not only is this the perfect resource for talking about topics like the environment, natural disasters, forest management, and emergency preparedness, this book will also spark important conversations about coping with personal and community tragedies. The author-illustrator reflects on his own experiences with forest fires in the autho's note, and backmatter provides additional context.
Perfect for: Parents, Educators, Nature lovers
After moving from the city, one boy discovers his new home in the woods isn't so bad—there is friendship in the midst of the forest. But when he spots a fire on the horizon that soon engulfs everything he's come to know—the bugs, the plants, the fox who keeps him company—he is forced to flee. When his newfound comfort goes up in smoke, how can he ever feel at home again?
In a forest fire, so much can change in an instant. But both fox and boy learn that there are some things fire cannot burn. With time, the forest will regrow, the animals will return to their home, and so will the boy and his mom.
As we all search for tools for understanding the destruction of forest fires, this touching story shows that hope, friendship, and resilience shine the brightest.
TIMELY: As fires rage over a wider swath of the United States and internationally, and as fire season lengthens year after year, and sets new records year after year, these are themes communities are engaging with daily during fire season.
WRITTEN BY A FIREFIGHTER: The author-illustrator was a volunteer firefighter, giving him a unique perspective on the topic of forest fires.
EMOTIONALLY RESONANT: This moving story ends with rebuilding—both for humans and for nature—and with a truly uplifting message of resilience.
COMMUNITY-BUILDING: A wonderful resource for families and communities experiencing the aftermath of a fire or other natural disasters, as well as anyone looking to empathize with, and better understand, those communities in need.
CLASSROOM RESOURCE: Not only is this the perfect resource for talking about topics like the environment, natural disasters, forest management, and emergency preparedness, this book will also spark important conversations about coping with personal and community tragedies. The author-illustrator reflects on his own experiences with forest fires in the autho's note, and backmatter provides additional context.
Perfect for: Parents, Educators, Nature lovers
44 pages, Hardcover
First published August 24, 2021
About the author
Danny Popovici
4 books8 followersDanny Popovic, a children's book artist and overall decent human being. He tells stories through picture book illustrations, urban sketching, and collage. He's illustrated a couple of books and currently working on his author debut.
His latest project Manjhi Moves a Mountain is out now.
His latest project Manjhi Moves a Mountain is out now.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 1, 2023
If you're looking for an outdoors themed picture book, checkout this one that features a family who moves to the woods, foxes and a forest fire. It reminded me of this old (and out of print) gem Fox and the fire.
July 26, 2023
An unusual book which can be understood and appreciated on many levels. My two-year-old grandson likes it for the two-page spread which shows all the animals together. He does not seem to grasp that they are all fleeing the fire, which is fine. Or then again, maybe he instinctively does because he stops there and just studies that page. Eventually, we go on, but he does not pay much attention to the rest. It is a story about a boy who comes to a new home and befriends the animals, especially a fox, then the fire comes and destroys everything, but they return and rebuild. Many ways to approach and draw from this book depending on the age and circumstances of the child(ren).
February 18, 2022
Extraordinary book --for anyone, but think especially powerful who has experienced catastrophic event. Words and illustrations are so accessible
February 22, 2022
Cute illustrations
August 10, 2021
Richie’s Picks: THE FOX AND THE FOREST FIRE by Danny Popovici, Chronicle, August 2021, 44p., ISBN: 978-1-7972-0282-2
“If Mercy’s a bus’ness, I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true
Fire! Fire on the mountain”
-- Mickey Hart & Robert Hunter (1978)
“As a new report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned Monday of the ‘unequivocal’ connection between human-caused global warming and extreme weather and climate events, massive wildfires burned around the world...There appears to be no end in sight.”
-- Ivan Saric in Axios (8/9/21)
An old Deadhead/author friend, who annually migrates with her husband between northern California and Australia, hit the COVID roadblock last year. They’ve since been stuck Down Under. Sadly, she posted a few days ago about their far-away northern California home:
“Zig’s property got torched by the River Fire yesterday in Grass Valley. Started by a campfire in a nearby campground, this kinda sucks. The main house is untouched (thankfully) and the tenants were able to get out safely, just after giving birth to their new baby. Sadly, the part of the property we lived on didn’t fare so well. Nothing left but ash. Our much loved trailer that was our home, all our cool stuff, wedding gifts, ALL the camping equipment, Zig’s truck, our mountain bikes, Zig’s family heirlooms, all our clothes, all the festival memorabilia, all gone.”
Such stories are all too common these days.
In THE FOX AND THE FOREST FIRE, a young boy and his mother move from the city to the woods. After initially struggling with the many adjustments involved, the boy takes to his new environment in a big way. He develops a comradeship with a fox. The pair are repeatedly seen engaging in parallel play. But:
“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.”
“Even after a late-season rain, we have to wait a long time before we’re allowed to go home.”
Sadly, they return to find that the house has burned down. Fortunately, the boy and his fox buddy are both safe. Plans for a new house are on the table, as his mom plants a tree to begin replacing and renewing what has been destroyed.
Oregon author/illustrator Danny Popovici once spent a summer working on a forest firefighting crew. I really enjoy his gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations. The boy wears reddish-orange hats and shoes that tone with the fox’s fur. This highlights the duo amidst expansive woodland scenes that are filled with foliage, an assortment of critters, creeks, and large rocks.
After the boy and his mom escape, there is a particularly memorable wordless scene in which stampeding forest animals flee the inferno.
“While things don’t look like they did before, the forest knows what to do after a fire.”
The problem, of course, is that the planet can bear only some much of this. It takes years for a forest to heal from fire, particularly the forest soil. It’s just not going to work for the forests or its animal and human inhabitants to deal with the smoke and destruction of annual forest fires. As scientists are stating even more definitively than before, humans need to act quickly and significantly if they want to maintain a habitable place for future generations.
Youngsters seeing burning California forests and burning Greek islands on the evening news will come to better recognize how so many creatures rely on our forests for shelter, food, and their very lives. For the young generation who will grow up to face constant climate catastrophes, THE FOX AND THE FOREST FIRE is a moving tale that provides a view into the personal impacts of such disasters.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“If Mercy’s a bus’ness, I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true
Fire! Fire on the mountain”
-- Mickey Hart & Robert Hunter (1978)
“As a new report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned Monday of the ‘unequivocal’ connection between human-caused global warming and extreme weather and climate events, massive wildfires burned around the world...There appears to be no end in sight.”
-- Ivan Saric in Axios (8/9/21)
An old Deadhead/author friend, who annually migrates with her husband between northern California and Australia, hit the COVID roadblock last year. They’ve since been stuck Down Under. Sadly, she posted a few days ago about their far-away northern California home:
“Zig’s property got torched by the River Fire yesterday in Grass Valley. Started by a campfire in a nearby campground, this kinda sucks. The main house is untouched (thankfully) and the tenants were able to get out safely, just after giving birth to their new baby. Sadly, the part of the property we lived on didn’t fare so well. Nothing left but ash. Our much loved trailer that was our home, all our cool stuff, wedding gifts, ALL the camping equipment, Zig’s truck, our mountain bikes, Zig’s family heirlooms, all our clothes, all the festival memorabilia, all gone.”
Such stories are all too common these days.
In THE FOX AND THE FOREST FIRE, a young boy and his mother move from the city to the woods. After initially struggling with the many adjustments involved, the boy takes to his new environment in a big way. He develops a comradeship with a fox. The pair are repeatedly seen engaging in parallel play. But:
“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.”
“Even after a late-season rain, we have to wait a long time before we’re allowed to go home.”
Sadly, they return to find that the house has burned down. Fortunately, the boy and his fox buddy are both safe. Plans for a new house are on the table, as his mom plants a tree to begin replacing and renewing what has been destroyed.
Oregon author/illustrator Danny Popovici once spent a summer working on a forest firefighting crew. I really enjoy his gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations. The boy wears reddish-orange hats and shoes that tone with the fox’s fur. This highlights the duo amidst expansive woodland scenes that are filled with foliage, an assortment of critters, creeks, and large rocks.
After the boy and his mom escape, there is a particularly memorable wordless scene in which stampeding forest animals flee the inferno.
“While things don’t look like they did before, the forest knows what to do after a fire.”
The problem, of course, is that the planet can bear only some much of this. It takes years for a forest to heal from fire, particularly the forest soil. It’s just not going to work for the forests or its animal and human inhabitants to deal with the smoke and destruction of annual forest fires. As scientists are stating even more definitively than before, humans need to act quickly and significantly if they want to maintain a habitable place for future generations.
Youngsters seeing burning California forests and burning Greek islands on the evening news will come to better recognize how so many creatures rely on our forests for shelter, food, and their very lives. For the young generation who will grow up to face constant climate catastrophes, THE FOX AND THE FOREST FIRE is a moving tale that provides a view into the personal impacts of such disasters.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
October 1, 2021
A boy moves from the city to a new home in the forest. At first, the nights are too quiet and the mornings are too loud. He goes on hikes with his mother, but it takes him some time to discover that there is a lot to do in the forest. He starts studying the insects, building small rock dams for little fish, and also makes friends with a fox. The two of them spend their days living in parallel. Then one morning, there is a column of smoke on the horizon. The boy and his mother must leave their home and the animals flee in front of the burning forest. They all lose their homes in the blaze. Months later, everyone is safe and they begin to rebuild. The forest doesn’t look the same, but things are slowly returning, the forest healing itself.
Written by a volunteer firefighter, this picture book looks at the deep connectivity to home, particularly one where you experience nature and animals living around you. That first part of the book as the boy steadily grows to love his new home makes a strong foundation for the devastation that follows. Readers will worry about the fox and other animals who can’t leave in a car for safety. The story is moving and timely with the current wildfires.
The art really looks closely at nature and the forest habitat, filling the pages with verdant greens and lovely cool pools of water, flowers, fallen logs, and much more. Some of the pages are wordless, allowing readers to simply sink into the natural world along with the protagonist. The pages about the fire capture the eerie light of the blaze, filling the images with a sense of impending danger.
A look at connecting with nature and the resilience to start again. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Written by a volunteer firefighter, this picture book looks at the deep connectivity to home, particularly one where you experience nature and animals living around you. That first part of the book as the boy steadily grows to love his new home makes a strong foundation for the devastation that follows. Readers will worry about the fox and other animals who can’t leave in a car for safety. The story is moving and timely with the current wildfires.
The art really looks closely at nature and the forest habitat, filling the pages with verdant greens and lovely cool pools of water, flowers, fallen logs, and much more. Some of the pages are wordless, allowing readers to simply sink into the natural world along with the protagonist. The pages about the fire capture the eerie light of the blaze, filling the images with a sense of impending danger.
A look at connecting with nature and the resilience to start again. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Read
October 27, 2021A simple and touching book dealing with an all-to-real trauma of losing one's home in a forest fire. The publisher indicates this is aimed at 5-8 year olds, but I think based on the complexity of the text I would suggest this runs younger, maybe for 3-6 year olds. Yes, it deals with the boy's home getting burned down but I think the way it deals with it is gentle and appropriate for young children. The story focuses on a simple narrative that keeps the boy focusing on what is good and not sitting in his fear. The parallel story shown is of a fox family that lives in the woods near the boy's home and how they deal with the forest fire. It's a nice touch to connect humans to the natural world and how the forest fire affects us all. Overall I enjoyed this but think, again, due to the simplicity it should be marketed younger.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Chronicle Kids. Opinions are my own.
***Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Chronicle Kids. Opinions are my own.
October 3, 2021
Beautiful picture book with multiple messages about new homes and renewal after a disaster. Simple text is elaborated with wonderful illustrations created with gouache, watercolor and colored pencil and will provide plenty of opportunities for conversation that extends past the words on the page. The title does puzzle me as the fox in the storyline is secondary to the boy telling the story of his progression from not liking his new home to appreciating all that it’s forest setting can offer and ending with its rebirth after a devastating fire. Backmatter by debut author and illustrator Danny Popovici provides additional information about forest fires and there place in nature. Thanks for the finished copy, Chronicle Kids.
December 31, 2023
Copyright date: 2021
Star rating: 4
Award: N/A
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary w/ themes: This book is about a boy who moves to a new place secluded in the forest. One day a forest fire happens and they have to leave their house. When they come back, they have to rebuild their home and see that many animals, including the fox that he became friends with, had to do the same.
Use for future classroom: This would be a good book to read if a forest fire were to happen somewhere close to show students that this happens and that our forests can rebuild themselves.
Thoughts of book: I thought this was a good book. I enjoyed the authors note in the back as well as the facts about forest fires. I also loved the illustrations, especially the fox.
Star rating: 4
Award: N/A
Genre: Realistic fiction
Summary w/ themes: This book is about a boy who moves to a new place secluded in the forest. One day a forest fire happens and they have to leave their house. When they come back, they have to rebuild their home and see that many animals, including the fox that he became friends with, had to do the same.
Use for future classroom: This would be a good book to read if a forest fire were to happen somewhere close to show students that this happens and that our forests can rebuild themselves.
Thoughts of book: I thought this was a good book. I enjoyed the authors note in the back as well as the facts about forest fires. I also loved the illustrations, especially the fox.
July 4, 2022
This is an interesting concept for a book. A kid moves to the country and isn't sure he likes it at first, until nature captivates him. He discovered a fox and makes friends with it (the fox shows up on most pages).
He sees smoke and they evacuate. The house gets burned up - which is, of course, tragic. But, the forest starts to recover and so does the family.
The book would speak to kids who've gone through this themselves.
The end pages have additional information that I found good and unbiased.
The theme is how to adapt (new home and then rebuilding).
He sees smoke and they evacuate. The house gets burned up - which is, of course, tragic. But, the forest starts to recover and so does the family.
The book would speak to kids who've gone through this themselves.
The end pages have additional information that I found good and unbiased.
The theme is how to adapt (new home and then rebuilding).
February 11, 2022
After a child adjusts to his move from the city to the country, which includes new activities and one curious fox, he must adjust to the consequences of a forest fire. Beautiful illustrations which are perfect for discussion, and brief text that does not monopolize, make this perfect for storytime.
November 11, 2021
A young boy adjusts to life in the country, learning to enjoy the flora and fauna. Attentive readers will find a fox playing alongside the boy, sharing resources after the fire. Back matter includes info on how a natural forest fire actually rejuvenates the land. Great illustrations!
September 14, 2021
Educational
Not many people realise the importance of fires today. This was an excellent story and I can't wait to see the physical book.
Not many people realise the importance of fires today. This was an excellent story and I can't wait to see the physical book.
September 19, 2021
3.5 stars for this book about a boy and a fox and a forest fire, told with perspective from a real forest fire fighter
December 19, 2021
Beautiful somewhat lyrical text and art in this story about rebulidng.
January 4, 2022
An important concept -- loss of homes to fire -- handled in a way that feels approachable for younger readers (3-7).
March 12, 2022
Read the author’s note. Especially poignant for children living near areas prone to wild fires
June 26, 2022
A must have in libraries in mountain & foothill communities where forest fires are a common reality.
January 21, 2023
3.5 rounded up to 4
January 25, 2024
Reminds me of Catherine Raven’s FOX & I, 😪
September 29, 2021
So many families have been devastated by forest fires this summer. It seems every day on the news another area is being ravaged and destroyed by wildfires. This new children’s book offers an opportunity to discuss how the wildfires affect nature and the people that live near it.
A young boy and his mom move from the city to the country. The boy has a hard time adjusting to the much quieter nights, the chirping birds, and hiking with his mom. Eventually, he finds the joy of living in the forest and being immersed in nature. He even notices a fox is often nearby.
One day during an adventure, he spots a plume of smoke in the distance. He hurries home to tell his mom and suddenly his life is uprooted from the forest back to the city while they take shelter.
Danny Popovici spent a summer many years ago, working on a forest firefighting crew. He learned to appreciate nature, animals, and the danger of forest fires. More recently, he had to flee from a forest fire in his own area, which led him to write this book.
His attention to the sensitive topic and the importance of appreciating nature is noticeable. This is a hard topic to write for children and Popovici has taken a difficult topic to discuss and made it understandable and empathetic. His compassion for teaching others about wildfires is evident. The character in this story comes home to find his home destroyed, but instead of being angry, he and his mom find joy in a new beginning. His message is one that kids from all kinds of disappointment can take a lesson from. Popovici also shares his personal story with readers at the end of the book as well as a lesson on wildfires and a need for action to protect our environment.
A young boy and his mom move from the city to the country. The boy has a hard time adjusting to the much quieter nights, the chirping birds, and hiking with his mom. Eventually, he finds the joy of living in the forest and being immersed in nature. He even notices a fox is often nearby.
One day during an adventure, he spots a plume of smoke in the distance. He hurries home to tell his mom and suddenly his life is uprooted from the forest back to the city while they take shelter.
Danny Popovici spent a summer many years ago, working on a forest firefighting crew. He learned to appreciate nature, animals, and the danger of forest fires. More recently, he had to flee from a forest fire in his own area, which led him to write this book.
His attention to the sensitive topic and the importance of appreciating nature is noticeable. This is a hard topic to write for children and Popovici has taken a difficult topic to discuss and made it understandable and empathetic. His compassion for teaching others about wildfires is evident. The character in this story comes home to find his home destroyed, but instead of being angry, he and his mom find joy in a new beginning. His message is one that kids from all kinds of disappointment can take a lesson from. Popovici also shares his personal story with readers at the end of the book as well as a lesson on wildfires and a need for action to protect our environment.
January 12, 2023
Beautiful book!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews