Smokey Bear Reading Challenge 2024

Celebrate Smokey’s 80th Birthday by joining the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge and engage youth in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers while they explore their local environment. This list are books for children and are available through the Sussex County Library System.

Updated July 25, 2024
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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Cool careers :
Paper Book
The first group of titles in an ongoing series introduces students to six amazing adventure careers. Geared for reluctant readers in upper elementary school and above, each high-interest title combines easy-to-follow text with engaging on-the-job photographs to spark students' interest in reading...
Redwoods
Chin, Jason 1978-
Paper Book
Jason Chin's Redwoods tells the story of a boy who discovers a book about redwoods and finds himself in their midst as he turns the pages. An ordinary train ride becomes and extraordinary trip to the great ancient forests. A subway trip is transformed when a...
Where's Rodney? /
Bogan, Carmen,
Paper Book
A Black boy's transformative day out in nature, recommended by Social Justice Books and We Are Kid Lit Collective Rodney is that kid who just can't sit still. He's inside, but he wants to be outside. Outside is where Rodney always wants to be. Between school and home, there is a...
Controlled burn /
Downing, Erin Soderberg
Paper Book
A MIBA bestseller 2024-2025 Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nominee 2024-2025 South Carolina Book Award Nominee 2023 Northeastern Minnesota Book Award Winner From bestselling author, Erin Soderberg Downing, Controlled Burn is a story...
Listen to the language of the trees :
Kelley, Tera,
Paper Book
This captivating book explores the real connection and communication that runs underground between trees in the forest. The well-researched details about trees' own social network will help readers see that the natural world's survival depends on staying connected and helping others-just like us!
Over and under the rainforest
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
Award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal take readers on a thrilling tour of one of the most diverse ecosystems on planet earth: the rainforests of Central America. Part of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series that includes Up in the...
Over and under the snow
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the...
Up in the garden and down in the dirt
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
Now in paperback! This exuberant and lyrical addition to the award-winning Over and Under series unveils the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt. From the author-illustrator team behind Over and...
They hold the line :
Paley, Dan,
Paper Book
A 2023 Chicago Public Library Best Book  A tribute to the unsung heroes of firefighting that takes readers along on a high-stakes mission to battle one of the deadliest natural disasters. A lone figure stands on...
Hiking day
Rockwell, Anne F.
Paper Book
Beloved author Anne Rockwell celebrates nature and the outdoors with a gorgeous new picture book about a child's first mountain hike! A young girl and her family go hiking up a nearby mountain for the very first time. As they climb up and up the path, they see everything from a...
Because of an acorn /
Schaefer, Lola M.,
Paper Book
Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling...
Fraser the forest ranger /
Schufman, Matthew,
Paper Book
Fraser the Forest Ranger is on a mission- to find one true friend. He searches far and wide, but he might just discover a best friend is closer than he thinks. Fraser is a Forest Ranger and he loves his job. He checks on the trees, he checks on the animals, and he always ends his...

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