Fire Shapes the World

Joanna Cooke is a writer who spent ten years living in the Sierra Nevada, working as an environmental educator and National Park Service Ranger in Yosemite National Park. She lives in Jackson, Wyoming, and this is her third book. Cornelia Li's work has been recognized by Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, The AOI, 3x3 Illustration, National Magazine Award, and more. She has illustrated many works of nonfiction for children and lives in Toronto. Diāna Renžina’s hometown is Riga, Latvia, an inspiring mix of cobbled streets, pine forests, cold sea, and Art Nouveau architecture. She enjoys taking photos, dancing tango, listening to music, and reading books. This is her North American illustration debut.

“Somewhere on Earth,/ a fire smolders./ Witness its smoke/ and glow/ and power.” Cooke urges appreciation for fire’s fundamental role in shaping ecosystems in this poetic exploration. “Life as we know it evolved with fire,” text informs as it evokes how fauna, flora, and humans alike have responded to the way fire ravages and renews. Employing painterly layers of color, Li and Renžina fill spreads with the golden reds, oranges, and yellows of fire. Early scenes focused on prehistoric burns (“The oldest known wildfire smoldered 420 million years ago”) have a freewheeling, uncontrolled energy, while later pictures of people—including early humans portrayed with brown skin, and contemporary firefighters and campers of different skin tones—appear more static. Together, the creators offer a nuanced portrayal of fire as a force to be respected. Ages 4–8. —Publishers Weekly"Where was Fire Shapes the World when my daughter was young and asked what I did at work? . . . How the author and illustrators were able to fit such a beautiful introduction to fire ecology into 34 enthralling pages is amazing. Adding to the value, the author’s note at the end of the book provides substantial background material, additional reading, and a collection of relevant websites. These resources are essential for teachers to prepare lessons accessible to a wide range of learners and therefore make Fire Shapes the World an excellent book for the elementary school classroom. —Wildfire Magazine from the International Association of Wildland Fire"The book encourages understanding of all aspects of fire, from the destructive to the life-giving." —Foreword ReviewsEntertaining, informative, thought-provoking, and having aspecial appeal to young readers with an interest in prehistory and the evolution of human society/culture, "Fire Shapes the World" is a unique,original, and very special addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4-8." —Midwest Book Review