*Review* Fire Flight by Cedar Pruitt

 

Genre: Children's 5-7 years

Published: January 3, 2024

Pages: 32

"Flames consume a forest, and an owl seeks refuge. Helicopter wings chop, and water drops to drench the branches below. Using spare, lyrical language, this debut picture book takes readers inside the journey of a screech owl that fled the flames to ride along with a firefighting helicopter during the 2020 California Creek wildfire. Vivid imagery highlights the fear and danger of the experience-as well as an astonishing moment of connection"--

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This is a short story about an owl who is trying to escape from a forest fire. Obviously the owl has a harrowing journey to make it to safety, which includes hitching a ride in one of the helicopters that was fighting the fire. The story is particularly cool because it's based on a true event. 

The story rhymes and uses pretty simple words, so even pretty young children should be able to understand what is being talked about. And if they don't fully understand the message from the words, the painting like illustrations did a fabulous job of showing the events of the story. 

Overall I give Fire Flight 4.1846 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

My debut picture book, FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape, with lush illustrations by Chiara Fedele, takes off on January 2, 2024 from Capstone Editions.

It explores an owl’s real-life flight out of a California wildfire and right into a surprise that made front-page headlines...

...captivating people around the world.

Publisher's Weekly calls it "a kid-friendly account that simultaneously underscores the dangers of

wildfire and the capacity of nature to surprise."

My second picture book, WHAT MARCEL FOUND: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Art, illustrated by David Litchfield, is about the brave kids who made an astounding discovery...

...that forever changed our view of humanity.

It will be published in Summer 2026 by Beach Lane Books at Simon & Schuster.

Can you pinpoint my favorite subject?

If you guessed owls, fire-fighting helicopters, climate change, surprising connections, art, animals, and exhilarating moments that change everything...you're right.

And if you guessed "what makes us human"....well, you're especially right.

I look for the poetry in everyday life, and use it to explore those things that are surprising, or funny, or beautiful...or maybe show us something new about ourselves.

I work as a DEI facilitator and consultant, hold a Master's degree in Education, and live with my family in Massachusetts, along with a collection of intriguing pets.