Only YOU can pick up a book: Smokey Bear Reading Challenge guides young readers to learn more about the environment, forestry and more

Only YOU can pick up a book: Smokey Bear Reading Challenge guides young readers to learn more about the environment, forestry and more

Jul 9, 2024

Smokey Bear, the iconic figure of wildfire prevention, is celebrating his 80th birthday on Aug. 9.

A central element of the celebration is the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge that runs through Nov. 28. It is aimed at youths age 4 through 10, though it is open to all ages.

The challenge promotes Smokey Bear’s familiar message — “Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires” — as well as guides young readers to learn more about such issues as the environment, natural resources careers and forestry.

“It’s a rather broad field (of subjects),” said Kelly McCabe, youth services coordinator for the State Library, which is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to offer the challenge in New Mexico.

The website smokeybear.com/library-reading-challenge explains to parents and guardians that their youngsters may enroll in the challenge at participating public libraries.

Ask a librarian to get you started by downloading a printable challenge log in a digital tool kit.

The tool kit has access to a Smokey storybook, posters, bookmarks, stickers, coloring sheets and printable prizes. The challenge can also be run through the online Beanstack platform.

If your local library isn’t participating in the challenge, then you may use the Individual Enrollment Page on the related website, smokeybear.com/individuals-reading-challenge.

This website also has a link to the downloadable printed challenge log.

Both sites have links to fire prevention how-tos and to a highlighted Smokey’s Reading List.

The list contains 34 suggested books for readers. These are some of the books on Smokey’s list:

• “Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down?” by Roberta Burzynski. Some children are unaware that in order to reduce tree hazards, to protect other trees or to get wood, it is necessary to cut trees.
• “The Hike” by Alison Farrell. Three intrepid female explorers are in their local forest. They get lost and use maps to find their way out. En route, they draw sketches of wildlife, spot deer tracks and see a deer before it is startled and disappears.
• “Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground” by Tera Kelley. It is about the connection and communication that runs below the surface between trees in the forest.
• “Because of an Acorn” by Lola M. Schaefer. Learn how every tree, flower, plant and animal are linked to one another in spiraling circles of life.
• “A Home on the Prairie” by David C. Lion. This book describes the main environmental features of the prairie and the types of animals living there, including rattlesnakes, burrowing owls and bison.
• “Smokejumpers One to Ten” by Chris L. Demarest. Follow smokejumpers, highly-trained airborne firefighters, as they parachute into remote areas to stop wildland and forest fires, and save lives.
• “All About Wildfires: Discovering How They Spark, Burn, and Spread” by Alessandra Potenza. The book includes a hands-on activity, a timeline, photographs and diagrams. And it explains how specially trained firefighters fight the flames.
• “National Geographic Kids: Wildfires” by Kathy Furgang. Learn all about wildfires — how they happen, when they are dangerous and why controlled fires are important.

The website also retells Smokey Bear’s story. As a bear cub, he was spotted wandering alone near a fire line in the Capitan Mountains of southern New Mexico. The orphaned cub took refuge from the fire in a tree, his paws and hind legs badly burned. He was rescued and flown to Santa Fe for treatment and bandaging.

The story made national news. Smokey spent most of his life at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. He is buried at Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan.

Smokey’s wildfire prevention message is still valid. Just last month, two devastating wildfires started in southern New Mexico, the South Fork Fire near Ruidoso, and the Salt Fire west of Mescalero. Two people were killed, more than 25,000 acres destroyed and some 1,000 structures burned in the fires that started June 17.