The book I am recommending to you this month is a story based upon a true story. The Grade Twos I read this book to were eager to identify all the animals inside the front cover before I began to read the story. This book is quite timely knowing the terrible fires now roaring through Australia.
The young boy, Antonio Willie Giroux, loved to explore the woods and look for animals, but they always remained hidden away. One hot, dry summer disaster struck: a fire rushed through the forest. Everyone ran to the lake to stand knee deep in the water as they watched the fire. Slowly, animals emerged from their forest home and joined the people in the water. Miraculously, all survived but Antonio never forgot the time when he watched the distance between people and animals disappear.
Happy Reading!
Julia Levine