What Is the Story of Smokey Bear?

What Is the Story Of?

by Steve Korté, Who H.Q., Robert Squier (illustrator)

Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most well-known characters of our time. In this addition to the What Is the Story Of? series, young readers will get to know American icon Smokey Bear's history with the U.S. Forest Service and fire safety!Created by the U.S. Forest Service in 1944 in reaction to forest fires being used as attacks during World War II, Smokey Bear has been guiding Americans through fire safety and preparedness for nearly eighty years. This American black bear known for wearing a pair of blue jeans and a forest ranger hat has found himself in classrooms, on stamps, in cartoons, on lunchboxes, in comic strips, and even as a giant balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 1950, Smokey came to life when a real-life bear cub rescued from a fire in New Mexico was named Smokey and became a living version of the character. Young readers can find even more reasons to love the face of forest fire prevention in this book that tells his whole history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Biography, Animals

112 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative history of the Smokey Bear campaign. It begins with an ad campaign featuring a bear wearing blue jeans and a ranger's hat saying "Smokey says -- Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires!" The forest service recognizes Smokey's birth date as August 9, 1944. In 1950, a young cub is found after a fire in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico. That cub is named Smokey and is sent to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. and becomes the living symbol of Smokey Bear. This book covers every aspect of Smokey Bear's story including radio and print ads, the U.S. postage stamp, the Smokey the Bear song, and more. This will be a good book to include in units about fires, conservation, and the history of advertising.

"Remember -- Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!"

[Elexndra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in HQ series Library borrow

[Sophia Melinda]

Remember — Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires!

[David Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

only you can prevent forest fires

A cute book and its origin is from New Mexico- Capitan is a great city and the museum is amazing. Such a gorgeous place for a memorial to a super cool bear 🐻!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gleaned quite a lot of information about the cute Smokey Bear. In honor of his 80th birthday in August, I had read a few books. However this had a few facts that I did not know. I love reading the Who is/What was series!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fascinating and I learned so much from it.

However, my entire life I’ve said Smokey the Bear, and come to find out there’s no “the”, it’s just Smokey Bear. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

[Stasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done.

[Della Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with Smokey Bear, so this was nostalgic as well as entertaining and informative.

Smokey Bear “is the only fictional character in the United States to receive a zip code” (46). You can write to him at Smokey Bear, Washington, DC 20252. 😀

The songwriters who wrote “Frosty the Snowman” and “Peter Cottontail” also wrote a song called “Smokey the Bear.” It was apparently popular, but I don’t remember it!

I would love to visit the Smokey Bear Museum in Capitan, NM, as well as the Smokey Bear Historical Park.

There was “Ballad of Smokey the Bear” which was shown on NBC and had Smokey’s big brother who was narrated by James Cagney. JAMES CAGNEY?!?! I love him!!!! I will be seeking this out (come on, YouTube!)!

Every May, in NM, there is “a two-day Smokey Bear Days celebration…held in his hometown of Capitan. There's a parade, concerts, and a log-carving contest” (102). That’s definitely something I would enjoy! 🐻

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not what I was expecting. There was a lot of historical information about forest depredation and the ad campaigns leading up to the creation of Smokey the Bear, but overall it was interesting and once Smokey became the sole focus of the book I quite enjoyed it.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool story! Never knew the whole story behind the campaign.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love Smokey!!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for children to learn about Smokey.