Fiery Night: A Boy, His Goat, and the Great Chicago Fire

by Sally M. Walker, Kayla Harren (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on a true story, Fiery Night is a heartwarming, empowering picture book about a little boy's devotion to his pet goat, Willie, and how they gave each other strength during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Young Justin Butterfield was awakened in the night by neighbors warning his family of the coming fire. The Butterfields did what they could to save their home but eventually had to flee. Justin insisted on taking Willie with them, even though the frightened goat made it more difficult for them to get away quickly. Encouraging and comforting Willie helped bolster Justin's own courage during the family's difficult journey through the burning city.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684460861
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	656,633
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Sally M. Walker is the award-winning author of more than 60 nonfiction books for young readers. Even though she was raised in New Jersey, the story of the Great Chicago Fire has long fascinated her. While reading a magazine about history, she saw a copy of a letter that young Justin Butterfield wrote about his family’s experiences during the fire. He had also drawn a picture of his family, including his pet goat, as they fled their home. After confirming that the Butterfields' story was true, she knew she wanted to share Justin’s story with young readers. Sally was awarded the 2006 American Library Association’s Robert F. Sibert Medal for Secrets of a Civil War Submarine. Her newest books are Deadly Aim: The Civil War Story of Michigan’s Anishinaabe Sharpshooters and Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up.

Interviews

A true story about the Great Chicago Fire and a boy's determination to escape with this family and his pet goat; Sibert-award-winning author, Sally M. Walker, has a talent for revealing fascinating stories from history for young readers; Celebrates determination, resiliency, and community members helping one another; Everyone loves goats!