A moving story about making tough choices when disaster strikes
Malia and her family are spending a day outside when they notice
something strange. Huge white-and-gray clouds fill the sky, planes zoom
overhead, and the air smells funny. A forest fire is sweeping the area,
and they need to evacuate their home.
Daddy tells Malia that she needs to choose what to bring. "Pick small
things. Things important to you," he says. But there's so much that
Malia wants to take with her! Her pillows and blankets. Her family of
teddy bears. LOTS of books. As the pile in her room grows, and chaos
swirls around her, Malia comes to realize that what is most important to
her won't fit in a backpack: her little brother, her cat, and her dog.
This heartfelt and powerful story explores a rare perspective:
experiencing a natural disaster through the eyes of a child. Malia's
authentic voice will resonate with readers, and the book's challenging
subject matter is balanced with gentle lessons in communication,
problem-solving, and family.