Book: Alight: A Story of Fire and Nature

Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, 2023

Author: Sam Lloyd

Illustrator: Samantha Metcalfe

This image was taken on the lands of the Butchulla and Kabi Kabi people, in Bauple State Forest, May 2023.

Reviewers:

Emma Spina

Year Three Teacher, 3A

Windsor State School

Department of Education

Alight perfectly blends stunning realistic illustrations and engaging story telling with presenting a powerful message to young Australians. This is a great book for introducing children to the concept of fire being more than a force for destruction, but as a force of life in the Australian landscape when treated with care.

John Woinarksi

NESP Research Professor

Charles Darwin University

Alight is a lovely, engaging and important book. It provides a necessary message that we all need to hear: that fire is not simply a negative, destructive force, but rather an instrument that when used with care and skill is good for country, needed by our nature. Understandably, fire is demonised by most of us, our feelings sharpened particularly by the destruction evident in catastrophic wildfires. So, it is a fine tonic to have an accessible and interesting story, which can engage children (and adults), that shows that fire is an invaluable part of the way our lands should be managed. Even the positivity of the title is good.

The book also reminds us in a gentle but compelling way that all of us should better understand and respect the knowledge of Australia’s First Nations people and help to support and apply that knowledge.

The range of animals and plants that make up the cast of characters in the book is well chosen, and each tells a variant on the myriad relationships of nature and fire – each species allows us to see the world from a different perspective. And of course, the accounts given in the book are robustly based on ecological understanding.

The illustrations complement the narrative beautifully; subtle, intriguing, detailed – the characters come alive, give depth to the story.