"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"-- With a swift beat of wings the owl burst from deep, deep in the trees up high above its burning home with nowhere to go— and saw a fellow flyer. FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape lyrically explores one owl's real-life escape from a California forest fire. What happened during that flight was so surprising that it made headlines all over the world. This exciting fictional narrative of a real-life event explores the following concepts: Forest Fires - Firefighting - Helicopters - Climate change - Nature - Owls and their habitats - Poetry When I first read about this incredible story in the newspaper, I was cozy and warm next to my fireplace on a cold New Year's Day, with my husband and children nearby. Reading about a little owl forced from its home made me imagine what it would be like to have to flee my own home—and picture the moment when the owl took a long look at the pilot. Two flyers, dealing with one fire. A Deeper Dive Into the Story What might make a reader curious when reading Fire Flight? Some of the things that I think about: I think about how those forests became so dry . After extreme drought brought on by climate change , the forests were able to burn easily and quickly. This fire, called the Creek Fire of 2020, burned for four months. What actions can we take to reduce the impact of climate change? - What do you know about climate change? - How does it make you feel? - I think about how fire-fighting helicopters work, and what fire-fighting work happens on the ground and the air. How do you learn to pilot a fire-fighting helicopter? - What do firefighters do to fight wildfires on the ground? - I think about owls ! Where do owls live? - What do they eat? - Have you ever heard an owl? - What is special about Screech-Owls? - I think about the connection between people and animals , and how important it is. What stories have you read in which people and animals have a special connection? - Do you have any special connections with animals? - I think about forests and how much I like being in one. Have you been in a forest? - What do you like about them? - What do you think the animals who live there like about forests? - I think about news stories and headlines , and how they can be scary, or comforting, or both at the same time, like this story. What have you read in the news that makes you scared? - How have you gotten over being scared? - And I even think about what makes me feel safe , cozy, and protected. For me, it helps to be with people I trust, gentle animals, in calm places like a quiet forest or on a couch with a soft quilt. - What makes you feel safe? --From the Author Using spare, lyrical language, author Cedar Pruitt takes readers inside the real-life journey of a screech owl that fled the flames to ride along with the pilot of 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 amidst struggle. --From the Inside Flap Flames consume a forest. An owl seeks refuge. Helicopter wings chop, chop, chop. Water drip, drip, drops. --From the Back Cover With a swift beat of wings the owl burst from deep, deep in the trees up high above its burning home with nowhere to go— and saw a fellow flyer. FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape  lyrically explores one owl's real-life escape from a California forest fire. What happened during that flight was so surprising that it made headlines all over the world. This exciting fictional narrative of a real-life event explores the following concepts: Forest Fires - Firefighting - Helicopters - Climate change - Nature - Owls and their habitats - Poetry When I first read about this incredible story in the newspaper, I was cozy and warm next to my fireplace on a cold New Year's Day, with my husband and children nearby. Reading about a little owl forced from its home made me imagine what it would be like to have to flee my own home—and picture the moment when the owl took a long look at the pilot. Two flyers, dealing with one fire. A Deeper Dive Into the Story What might make a reader curious when reading Fire Flight? Some of the things that I think about: I think about how those  forests became so dry . After extreme drought brought on by  climate change , the forests were able to burn easily and quickly. This fire, called the Creek Fire of 2020, burned for four months. What actions can we take to reduce the impact of climate change? - What do you know abo