50 acres. 3 centuries. And 1 story walk on this gorgeous historic working farm and forest in Waltham, MA.
Has there ever been a more beautiful time to visit Gore Place?
Enjoy the trees, the flowers, the sheep 🐑 and…. 🔥FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE !
For this local author, it is a dream come true.
Stroll along the Story Trail on the Gore Estate, where you can read a book from cover to cover while moving along the Trail. This Trail will feature one new book each season.
Story Trail Admission: Free.
Location: Find the first page of the book posted on a slanted board near Gore Place’s Nature Playscape, which is located beside the museum’s main parking lot. Follow the story along the Perimeter Walk. To reach the parking lot, enter at our main entrance at 52 Gore St, Waltham.
Come get your copy of Fire Flight signed by both the author and illustrator!
After countless times of telling children that someday I’d go to Italy and meet my illustrator…I did it! She and her family took the train two hours to meet me and mine, and we shared a wonderful lunch in stunning Florence this past spring.
We have a lot in common, including the fact that we’ve each had a long-lived and beloved cat named Hazelnut (although hers is of course named Nocciola!) Now she’s visiting New York City, and I will go visit her. The bookstore McNally Jackson has invited us for a dual signing at their Seaport location. Come join us on Saturday, August 23 at 11am at 4 Fulton St in NYC – details below!
August 1, 2025 marked a milestone for Fire Flight: It came out in paperback! This new edition is perfect for toting to the field, beach, pool or on walks. Available where ever books are sold. Grab one today!
Here I am at my community pool with my very first copy of my very first book in paperback!
Reviewers select books based on ‘literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers’ out of a field of thousands in order to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents and others seeking outstanding books for children of all ages across a range of categories. The honor for Fire Flight was in the category of Ecology.
Written by Cedar Pruitt and illustrated by Chiara Fedele, this lyrical nonfiction picture book is a true story of climate change and connection from the perspective of a firefighting helicopter pilot and one little owl as they fly high above a burning forest – together.
An ideal read-aloud for ages 3-8 with a rhythmic blend of rhyming, non-rhyming, and onomatopoeia, the book features the actual photo taken by the pilot which made headlines around the world. Capstone Editions is the publisher of this unique STEM book.
“Every child who builds knowledge of climate change through the humor, suspense and hope of this amazing true story is a part of the circle of the remarkable connection between that pilot and that owl. Recognition on this list is a tremendous honor, and being featured in the Ecology category is very meaningful, because empathy for and awareness of ecosystems is a vital characteristic in the next generation. In Boston, we are currently cloaked in smoke from Canada – a living reminder that wildfires have a broad and penetrating reach,” said author Cedar Pruitt.
Fire Flight: A Wildfire Escape is available in hardcover everywhere that books are found, and the paperback edition will release on 8/1/25.
The full list of books honored by Bank Street is a rich resource for excellent fiction and nonfiction selections. See the complete award list here.
As a work of easy-to-understand poetic nonfiction, FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape is aligned with the recommendation from The National Council of Teachers of English, which urged an increase in nonfiction in the lives of children in grades K-12: “With so much to offer young people as readers and thinkers, nonfiction should play a far more robust role in the reading and learning lives of young people in and out of school.”
See the author interviewed a CBS morning show about how FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape provides opportunities to build literacy, awareness, and empathy – while inviting discussion about natural habitat and climate change. Her second lyrical nonfiction picture book, WHAT MARCEL FOUND: THE INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY OF THE LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS, with award-winning illustrator David Litchfield (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2026), tells the story of four kids searching for treasure in a forest in occupied France in 1940 – who uncover exquisite 17,000-year-old cave paintings that permanently change our understanding of humanity.
FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE can be purchased wherever books are sold, in hardcover with library binding at $18.99. The ISBN is 9781684468867.
About Cedar Pruitt:Cedar Pruitt is the author of the children’s books FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape from Capstone, about an owl’s real-life surprise ride in a firefighting helicopter, and the forthcoming WHAT MARCEL FOUND: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings from Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster. Cedar Pruitt holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and works as a consultant in culture and leadership. She lives in greater Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston, MA. Fire Flight: A Wildfire Escape has been long-listed for the 2025 Green Earth Book Awards. The Green Earth Book Awards “raise awareness about how the next generation can be environmental stewards and encourage young people to reflect on the beauty, resiliency, and fragility of our natural world.”
This lyrical STEM nonfiction picture book from Capstone Editions, written by Cedar Pruitt and illustrated by Chiara Fedele, is a true story of climate change and connection as seen through the eyes of a firefighting helicopter pilot and one little owl as they both fly high above a burning forest. An ideal read-aloud for ages 3-8 with a rhythmic blend of rhyming, non-rhyming, and onomatopoeia, the book features the actual photo taken by the pilot which made headlines around the world.
“It’s always an honor to be recognized, but if being on this award list increases the chances that even one child will deepen their empathy and awareness through the humor, suspense and hope of this amazing true story, then we’ve succeeded beyond our wildest dreams,” said author Cedar Pruitt.
The full list of books honored by Green Earth serves as a rich resource for engaging the next generation in the important acts of learning, thinking, and brainstorming their way to environmental stewardship. See the complete long list for the 2025 Green Earth Book Awards here.
As a work of easy-to-understand poetic nonfiction, FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape is aligned with the recommendation from The National Council of Teachers of English, which urged an increase in nonfiction in the lives of children in grades K-12: “With so much to offer young people as readers and thinkers, nonfiction should play a far more robust role in the reading and learning lives of young people in and out of school.”
See the author interviewed a CBS morning show about how FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape provides opportunities to build literacy, awareness, and empathy – while inviting discussion about natural habitat and climate change. Her second lyrical nonfiction picture book, WHAT MARCEL FOUND: THE INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY OF THE LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS, with award-winning illustrator David Litchfield (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2026), tells the story of four kids searching for treasure in a forest in occupied France in 1940 – who uncover exquisite 17,000-year-old cave paintings that permanently change our understanding of humanity.
FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE can be purchased wherever books are sold, in hardcover with library binding at $18.99. The ISBN is 9781684468867.
About Cedar Pruitt:Cedar Pruitt is the author of the children’s books FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape from Capstone, about an owl’s real-life surprise ride in a firefighting helicopter, and the forthcoming WHAT MARCEL FOUND: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings from Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster. Cedar Pruitt holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and works as a consultant in culture and leadership. She lives in greater Boston, Massachusetts.
SUPPORTING WILDFIRE AWARENESS WITH A NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK ABOUT A REAL-LIFE SURPRISE BETWEEN AN OWL AND A HELICOPTER PILOT
Boston, MA. Wildfire is the major theme of the lyrical nonfiction STEM picture book FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE from leading publisher Capstone. This feel-good book, for ages 3-8, is an important resource for talking with children about wildfire and climate change. As parents, teachers, librarians, administrators, firefighters, policy makers and others struggle to address those topics and to make change, books can help, and this one is packed with hope.
Author Cedar Pruitt explores, in easy-to-read, lyrical prose, the true story of an owl that flew out of a California wildfire and into a firefighting helicopter, where it stayed for several water drops before flying out again. The pilot snapped an incredible photo, which is included in the book.
“Thanks to this powerful photo, the owl’s story made headlines around the world,” says Pruitt. “I retold the story in spare, kid-friendly lyrical text to capture the suspense and danger of the moment, as well as the moment of connection between the pilot and the owl. I love the way that Chiara Fedele’s lush oil pastel illustrations bring my narrative to life. FIRE FLIGHT will hook readers who are curious about wildfire, firefighting, helicopters, climate change and natural habitats.”
“There are so many headlines these days about wildfire that feel overwhelming, sad, scary or threatening…and kids notice,” she continued. “As a parent myself, I know the relief of finding a news story that is not only surprising and delightful, but also about connection and safety.”
Media Interviews: Author Cedar Pruitt is available for media interviews and discussions about the challenges parents face in navigating the current climate of wildfire, why school is a great setting for talking about this issue, and the importance of literacy and engagement in educating the next generation about climate change, ecology, connection, and more.
In the clip linked below, the author is interviewed on a CBS morning show and discusses how FIRE FLIGHT provides opportunities to build literacy, awareness, and empathy – while inviting discussion about natural habitat and climate change.
Teachers, librarians, and administrators: Cedar Pruitt is available to come to your school, library, conference, Family Literacy Night, book fair and much more! With interactive and engaging questions, tools and activities, Cedar helps cultivate appetites for reading, writing, poetry and nonfiction in students of all ages. Click here for rates and workshops.
Drawing on her Ed.M. from Harvard University, expertise as a facilitator, and a decade+ of hosting and observing author visits in public schools, she understands the value and opportunity of creating moments that pop for students. She invites them into the world of ideation, reading, writing and revising. Based in greater Boston, Massachusetts, she offers classroom visits and assemblies across New England, and is also willing to travel.
As a work of easy-to-understand poetic nonfiction, FIRE FLIGHT is aligned with the recommendation from The National Council of Teachers of English, which urged educators to increase the amount of nonfiction in the lives of children in grades K-12. In a 2023 position paper, the NCTE wrote, “With so much to offer young people as readers and thinkers, nonfiction should play a far more robust role in the reading and learning lives of young people in and out of school.”
Pruitt’s second lyrical nonfiction picture book, WHAT MARCEL FOUND: THE INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY OF THE LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS, with award-winning illustrator David Litchfield (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2026), tells the story of four kids searching for treasure in a forest in occupied France in 1940 – who uncover exquisite 17,000-year-old cave paintings that permanently change our understanding of humanity.
Features of FIRE FLIGHT include:
Real Photo, Real-life Story, Ripped from the Headlines. Good news can be hard to find among scary headlines, but this real-life story made headlines around the world due to the incredible photo taken by the helicopter pilot – and rendered in full detail in this book.
Timely Connection to Climate + Natural Environment. Climate change is hard to ignore, even for young readers, and this book offers a gentle way to address the topic. In an age of growing climate awareness, modern parents seek stories like this one that build meaningful and memorable connections between readers and the natural world. This book provides abundant opportunities to reflect on our collective experience as well as suggestions for kid-friendly climate action.
Firefighting + Helicopters. For kids excited about vehicles and firefighters, this book offers nonstop action – from the chop, chop, chop of the blades to the gush of water dropping on the flames below.
Animal Connections and Kid Appeal. Kids love stories about special connections with animals, and they may even have a story of their own – making this theme timeless. Owls may as well have their own fan club! They are the subject of fascination for many children, and facts about owls never cease to amaze people of any age. Whether at a school visit, at a wildlife demonstration, or in the wild, most kids have encountered an owl; and the star of this book, the screech owl, is common in the Americas.
Lyrical Nonfiction. Cedar Pruitt’s spare, kid-friendly poetry tells a story that is by turns scary, heartwarming, humorous and empathetic.
Lush Illustrations. Using colorful oil pastel, Chiara Fedele brings the reader up close to a terrible wildfire; inside a cockpit; over a heartbreakingly beautiful forest; and face to face with a nervous pilot and an unforgettable owl.
Backmatter. Featuring an author’s note that educates readers about wildfires and climate change, as well as a view into the author’s inspiration for the story, FIRE FLIGHT offers a satisfying combination of art, story, insight, and heart.
FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE can be purchased wherever books are sold, in hardcover with library binding at $18.99. The ISBN is 9781684468867.
About Cedar Pruitt:Cedar Pruitt is the author of the children’s books FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape from Capstone, about an owl’s real-life surprise ride in a firefighting helicopter, and the forthcoming WHAT MARCEL FOUND: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings from Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster. Cedar Pruitt holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and works as a facilitator and consultant in culture and leadership. She lives in greater Boston, Massachusetts with her family.
A short, fun, meaningful interview with librarian, teacher, and influencer extraordinaire Shannon Miller. What a thrill! Take 4 minutes and watch it here!
Cedar Pruitt 