An interesting and sweet story, but what makes the book special are the beautiful illustrations. ( )

There is a certain quiet delight to this book, even though it tells a story about forest fire -- spoiler alert -- I love the wonderful historic details of the frontier hotel in the Canadian wilderness, and the thoughtful child's-eye view. ( )

Rebecca Bond outdid herself with this beautifully executed book. Her intricate drawings are accented with watercolor washes in earth tones, which creates the mood of the time in which the story takes place. The story is told in the gentle poetic language of a grandparent. This is a must read for adults and children. ( )

"I love how it can inspire students to seek out stories from grandparents and other relatives."

This book surprised me. Although published ind 2015, the cover and end papers of the book make it look very old. The story takes place in 1914 in a rural town in Ontario, Canada. Told through the eyes of a young boy, you learn about the area at the time and witness a fire that overcomes the forest, forcing people and animals alike to stand in the lake for what "felt like several days" until the fire burned out. The story, with is quaint illustrations, was captivating from start to finish. The final page explains the actual history and shows a photograph of the boy in the story, and you learn that he was the author's grandfather. I'm looking forward to reading this with my students. ( )