Through lyrical prose and stunning art, learn how one tree species thrives through fire.

One pine cone hangs in wait at the top of a tall lodgepole pine—for forty years it waits. But it watches as a small spark flickers into flame. It watches as the flames whip into a forest fire, sending animals fleeing. It watches as the flames grow higher and hotter—until the pine cone cracks open. As the fire cools and dies, the pine cone finally drops its seeds into the soil. Soil that has been made rich by the fire, warmed by the sun that can reach the forest floor once more. And from that destructive start, comes new life once more.

This poetic story introduces readers to one of the serotinous tree species that can only grow anew when the seeds face fire. Back matter includes additional information on forest fires and lodgepole pines.