Odin, Dog Hero of the Fires

Emma Bland Smith is formerly a French teacher and magazine editor and currently a writer and librarian, as well as Girl Scout volunteer and passionate gardener. She started writing picture books when her kids were young. Emma lives with her husband and two kids in San Francisco, California. Carrie Salazar is an artist, illustrator, and storyteller. A daughter of immigrants, Carrie grew up in southeastern Louisiana and finds inspiration for her art from dreams, history, people, events, and her childhood in the rural south. She draws and paints from her home in Berkeley, California.

"A Great Pyrenees dog named Odin narrates this dramatic story based on true events. The dog relates the harrowing tale in first-person present tense, adding dramatic suspense as the plot unfolds. . . The scenes of the nighttime fire and the hazy, gray day that follows, however, project a dreamlike effect that in combination with the posed animals conveys the nightmarish quality of the wildfire and its aftermath. . . A final page gives information about Great Pyrenees dogs. An entertaining story of a dog's brave behavior in a devastating wildfire."—Kirkus Reviews"Told from Odin's point of view, this true story is a heartwarming tale of survival against all odds as well as a wonderful lesson about responsibility and perseverance. Salazar's soft illustrations are lifelike. . . Highly recommended for all children's library collections, especially where dog books are in high demand and where wildfires are prevalent."—School Library Journal"A touching and inspirational true picture book story. . . Memorably entertaining and impressively inspiring."—Children’s Bookwatch