The longer I am part of this incredible Kid-Lit community, the more fabulous people I connect with. Sometimes I meet folks at conferences or book events. Other times, it’s through contests like #50PreciousWords. Today we are singing a GLORIOUS Happy Birthday to a book written by Ginny Neil who I met when she won Susanna Leonard Hill’s Halloweensie Contest in 2020. Ginny chose me as her prize – I think it was a picture manuscript critique. I LOVED her story…and I read one of her other manuscripts also (this one!). And early in 2021, when I heard that Essie White had just taken on a new agent at Storm Literary, I encouraged Ginny to send Lisa Amstutz something because Lisa loves lyrically written informational fiction – and that’s exactly what Ginny does so well. Ginny did query Lisa…the rest is history. And the result is Ginny’s debut picture book, THE FOREST THAT FIRE BUILT which she wrote AND illustrated!
Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
A wildfire roars through the forest, leaving nothing but ashes until seeds sprout from deep below. Root by root and seed by seed, the forest rises again. In this lyrical cumulative nonfiction story about forest succession, readers will learn that forest fires are critical to forest health and that the end of a tree’s life provides the opportunity for new life. Back matter explains the timeline of the forest cycle in more detail.
And here’s a little bit about author/illustrator Ginny Neil:
Ginny Neil is an author, illustrator, award-winning teacher, and master naturalist. When she’s not slogging through a marsh, trying to spot spring peepers or chasing errant sheep across mountains and meadows, she manages an outdoor learning lab, teaches STEM to elementary and middle school students, and writes about all the things and people that make Earth such a fun and fascinating place to live. The Glorious Forest that Fire Built is her first picture book.
And here are some ways we can help THE GLORIOUS FOREST THAT FIRE BUILT become a big success:
Buy the book
Review the book on Amazon and Goodreads
Tell friends about it (share on your social media!)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection
Please remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this beautiful book!
Have a super fantastic week, dear friends!
I’ll leave you with something that I hope will inspire you – Ginny saw a photo of my late husband fly fishing…and SHE was inspired to paint it. She mailed me a print of it – and I absolutely LOVE it.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
You had me at the title. I must read this!
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Thank you Joyce.
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What a great idea for a children’s book! With forest fires in the news so often, this regenerative power of fire provides hope and a positive perspective I will definitely read this.
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Thank you so much.
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This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to read it. Congratulations!
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Thank you.I am super excited that it is finally here.
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Thank you
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This sounds like it is going to be a great mentor text. Can’t wait to read it!
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Thank you so much. I am honored that you think so.
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This sounds amazing! Driving through different areas affected by wildfires has definitely piqued my interest in forest cycles. Congratulations on the beautiful book!
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A drive through Colorado after fires about fifteen years ago was a tiny bit of the seed for this book.
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I can’t wait to read this book! Congratulations, Ginny!
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Thank you
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I saw this cover on the Amicus page and knew I wanted to read it, but hearing the origin story makes me want to read it even more. Congrats on your book birthday!
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Thank you. It has been fun.
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This sounds so fabulous. Congratulations! And thanks for your thoughtful gift to Vivian as she does so much for all of us.
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What a fascinating topic for a book! I can’t wait to read this one. Congratulations, Ginny! And, Vivian, the painting of your husband is magnificent.
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This sounds wonderful, Ginny! And the connections to all of the fires we keep having (at least in our area) are wonderful. Such a great resource! Congratulations!
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I can’t wait to read this book! I just got back from visiting Yosemite and Sequoia NPs, and learned how Sequoias regenerate, amazing! Ginny is an artist too, the print is gorgeous! Congratulations on your book birthday Ginny, and thank you Vivian, for this post!
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What a lovely success story. This book sounds fascinating. I can’t wait to read it. Ginny’s painting of your husband is absolutely beautiful, Vivian. I’m sure you’ll treasure it.
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What a hopeful and encouraging nature book! Thanks for introducing it to us.
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What a wonderful gift! I love the idea of explaining to kids that fire is necessary, after decades of “only you can prevent forest fires” from Smokey Bear. And I’m glad to see publishers are open to forest fire stories, since I’ve been submitting my own!
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Looking forward to your evocative art and lyrical language. Congratulations on a beautiful book!
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Thank you so much
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This sounds like a lovely story! I love informational picture books and books about nature and forests! I’ll have to check this one out. My debut picture book, A Walk Through the Redwoods, illustrated by Natalia Bruno, comes out next month, and is also about the forest!
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Trees make such great subject matter. Congratulations.
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I must read this book as I grew up playing in the forest surrounding our cabin in the UP of Michigan.
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Congratulations on your debut, Ginny. Such an important, and hope-filled topic!
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Can’t wait to read this book❤️ congratulations!!!
And sweet, sweet picture for Vivian ❤️
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Congratulations, from one of your Storm sisters! The story behind the painting of Vivian’s husband brings tears to my eyes. So lovely. I can’t wait to read this beautiful book, Ginny!
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