What to Bring

by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, Ellen Rooney (Illustrator)

A moving story about making tough choices when disaster strikes Malia and her family are spending a day outside when they notice something strange. Huge white-and-gray clouds fill the sky, planes zoom overhead, and the air smells funny. A forest fire is sweeping the area, and they need to evacuate their home. Daddy tells Malia that she needs to choose what to bring. “Pick small things. Things important to you,” he says. But there’s so much that Malia wants to take with her! Her pillows and blankets. Her family of teddy bears. LOTS of books. As the pile in her room grows, and chaos swirls around her, Malia comes to realize that what is most important to her won’t fit in a backpack: her little brother, her cat, and her dog. This heartfelt and powerful story explores a rare perspective: experiencing a natural disaster through the eyes of a child. Malia’s authentic voice will resonate with readers, and the book’s challenging subject matter is balanced with gentle lessons in communication, problem-solving, and family.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Fiction, Grief, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Environment

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2023

About the author

Lorna Schultz Nicholson is an award winning author who has published over 50 books, including children's picture books, middle grade, YA fiction and sports non-fiction. Lorna divides her time between Edmonton and Penticton, where she and her husband share their homes with their Mexican rescue dog.
http://www.facebook.com/lorna.s.nicho...
www.lornaschultznicholson.com
Instagram- Lorna Schultz Nicholson
twitter - lornasn

Reviews

[Claire Wrobel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is an important story to tell, and Malia accurately represents the worries of a young child who doesn't know how to react to evacuating her home. Wanting to bring everything and not understanding that she could lose everything is a very accurate depiction. However I thought the ending was really vague. I think there should have been an extra sentence or page explaining that she realized she just needed her family.

[Karen Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about the difficulty about having to move and leave home as a child. When you can’t take it all, What To Bring. With a relatable story, important to tell in todays works and wonderful illustrations this book would make a wonderful addition to any collection.

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in an area prone to natural disasters, I would definitely read this in the classroom at the beginning of storm season. This is such a sensitively-told tale of a family forced to quickly evacuate their home due to a wildfire (presumably--I don't believe the actual word was used). It focuses on the perspective of their young daughter who is old enough to understand something big and scary is happening, but unsure how to process what's going on. She is tasked with packing her bag and struggles to decide what to bring, before deciding what's truly important to her.

This felt very realistic and matter-of-fact, while still being reassuring. The family is fortunate in that they have each other, a means to evacuate, and somewhere to go, so readers are able to focus on Malia's dilemma. Young kids will find her thoughts and feelings to be very relatable and this should spark some good discussions about what young readers might decide to pack for themselves. It would be a wonderful addition to school and classroom libraries for pre-K and early elementary.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hit close to my heart after having to evacuate our apartment complex in 2021 due to a fire... :'(

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book has emotive illustrations and a simple, straightforward story. A young girl and her family must evacuate their home because of approaching wildfires, and she has to decide what she will take with her as they escape. The book is open-ended and doesn't specify what happens to the house, keeping this applicable to kids who have lost everything or who have just evacuated.

Although the book could create unnecessary, intense anxieties for sensitive kids who haven't already experienced something like this, the story will help kids affected by wildfires or house fires process their traumatic experiences. I found the ending somewhat abrupt and overly ambiguous (aside from not specifying the fate of the house), but this will be a helpful tool for conversation starters and healing.

I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

What to Bring is one of those books you didn’t know was filling a gap until you picked it up. There aren’t many picture books dealing with loss from a natural disaster — after several years of horrific forest fires, hundred year floods, and hurricanes, it makes perfect sense that there should be something out there for our youngest readers.

What do you take with you when the world around you is consumed by flame? Malia faces this question as her family is forced to evacuate their home when a forest fire sweeps through their community. Like many of us, she wishes she could fit her whole home into her small backpack. But there isn’t time or space.

This story was so gentle despite the dread of loss and destruction. In many ways it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite picture books, A Chair for My Mother, where loss, change, and community are brought together to show that no matter the wreckage, the things that matter most will stay with you. I really appreciated how the story didn’t shy away from the devastation fire can bring to a community, and balanced the loss with a sense of growth and new perspective. The illustrations, with a soft muted pallette and aversion to hard lines, feel very well suited to the tone of book.

Even if your young readers have (thankfully) not endured such a level of material loss, What to Bring is a great introduction to discussions of natural disasters, enduring change, and recognizing the most valuable things in our lives are those that are irreplaceable.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived in Southern California through the Thomas and Woolsey fires and still under the constant threat of future fires, I was eager to read this newly released picture book about the difficult choices a family must make during an urgent evacuation. Gently told in language young children can relate to, such as mama using her “hurry-up voice”, we follow young Malia’s efforts to pack what matters in the rushed moments her family has to escape from an approaching fire. Her parents send her to pack her important things while they bustle to prepare for the family’s most urgent needs. Children will relate to Malia’s difficult decisions about what to bring, and the story offers a helpful invitation into discussion with little ones about what evacuating means and what matters most in an emergency.

Though fire on the first couple pages is the cause of evacuation in this book, other natural disasters like tornadoes, flooding and hurricanes share the urgency of evacuation that propels this story. The words and illustrations pair perfectly to introduce a young child to the unsettling reality of an evacuation while reassuring them at the same time.

I was relieved the family in this story had a relative’s house to escape to. I would appreciate a book by this same author/illustrator duo explaining an emergency evacuation to a shelter, the conditions within a shelter and the roles of people operating the shelter to keep everyone safe and cared for.

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clearly this book has its place, given the number of wildfires affecting places well beyond the "usual suspects" in the west. The capable illustrations depict the need to make a quick escape when danger strikes. The message that people and pets are the most important things to bring is made clear.

However, from the uninviting cover (I'm not sure what young person picks a picture book with that many wary faces on it), to the chaotic situations shown of a child dithering in an emergency, I don't see what kid would want to read this title. The overall unpreparedness of the family, too (if you're living in this area, wouldn't you have had this "what to bring" conversation with your kid before the evacuation order?), might give an uneasy impression to a child to trust their adults.

It also feels like there was a missed opportunity to have a reader consider that some objects may actually be more valuable than others. So the message is that it's better to bring nothing than to choose anything? That's a good way to ensure a lifetime of regret.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Families having to evacuate their homes during a natural disaster is a reality that seems to be growing increasingly common. Malia is a child who struggles with an understandable problem: She has so many toys she loves, how can she narrow all of her stuff down to just a couple of things to take with her when a wildfire threatens her neighborhood? However, Malia then makes a very grown-up realization that her family is the most important thing that will be leaving in the car that day.

I loved that there was never any question that Snowball the cat and Chester the dog were part of the family and they would be evacuating, too. We've seen time and time again how left-behind pets suffer when their people evacuate in an emergency. I was pleased to see this modeling of responsible care for pets (good for you having a cat carrier and leash on hand!) and consideration for their well-being.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
A gentle approach to a scary and dangerous situation. Malia's family has to evacuate their home due to a forest fire raging nearby. They need to pack and take what is important and fits in the car. She struggles as she can't decide which is the most special of her belongings. In the end, she whispers something in her mom's ear and does not take anything. Readers can decide/discuss what she shared. Be sure to see the final sentence as it offers a huge clue as to what Malia felt was most important.
Schultz Nicholson uses soft language but offers a realistic view on situations like this. Sadly, the book is timeless as disasters happen in all areas.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, easy to understand story for little kids, explaining a youngster's decision about what to take when having to evacuate their home quickly. The illustrations are very colorful & facilitate the understanding of the point/theme of the book. I thought the book introduces a subject that might be kind of scary....without being scary.... & I liked that about it! It's a very nice book & it might offer neat opportunities for further discussion with a little one. I think it'd be a great book to share with the little's!
I received a complimentary e-ARC of this book from Owlkids Books via NetGalley for review purposes.

[Jared White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that will, unfortunately, likely become more and more relevant. Despite that, I thought it was just okay. Too much is just implied or seemingly occurs off-screen (or off-page, rather). I like the idea that the child chooses her family members as her "three things" (this is just implied rather than told) but then an illustration does show two of her beloved stuffed animals in her backpack in the car, so I guess her mother explained that, of course, they were going with her so she could choose three other things. The sentiment is good, I just have mixed feelings on the execution.

[Amber Reifsneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malia and her family are forced to leave their home as a wildfire is coming closer and closer to demolishing their home. Malia's parents tell her to pack a bag of things that she wants to bring with her. After choosing multiple itmes that would not fit in a single bag, her mom tells her, "Three things and put the rest in your heart". Leaving her home, she brings not physical objects, just her family.

This book is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are gorgeous, and it is such a heartwarming story. I would love to read this aloud to the students at my school and feel like it has so much value!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book discusses a difficult subject; having to flea your home due to a fire. In the story the child must decide what to bring with her and soon realizes that what is most important is not material objects, but the family members she loves. Good for teaching about fire drills or house fires and the need to leave things and get yourself out safely, but also an important lesson about material objects. I could also see this as being a good segue into discussions about refugees or people who need to leave their homes for other reasons. This book is well done and one I would recommend. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you bring if you have to evacuate your house? The impossible decisions that need to be made in these moments are hard for all of us, but most comprehendible for kids. This book is hard, but so timely and important. It helps the reader feel what it's like to be in a home that is evacuated due to wildfires or any natural disaster in a way they can understand. For a child who has lived this experience, this will hopefully be a comfort and an opportunity to talk about what they've experienced. In a world where these types of disasters are becoming more and more prevalent, this feels like a necessary and timely story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a WONDERFUL picture book to help children process their feelings as they consider what it is like to evacuate their home. Reading a book like this could prepare children for a traumatic event, help them know what others have experienced, help them develop empathy for others, or even help them learn that we can learn to deal with difficult things that happen in our lives. That is an essential thing for children to learn! I loved it. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity of previewing this book. We will be purchasing this book for our school's library!

#WhattoBring #NetGalley

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the unthinkable happens . . .

As a wildfire rages near, Malia and her family must leave their home, taking only what can fit in their car. Malia has very little time to decide what is most important to her.

This is rather an intense and melancholy read, though sadly it is a reality many children must deal with each year. Hopefully it will encourage discussions, empathy, and contemplation about what really matters in our lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for sharing this special book.

[Lisa Gisèle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What to Bring is a book that helps children with the stress and unknown situation of evacuation due to forest fire. Really it works for any evacuation, it helps explain packing only the important items and some things are going to have to be left behind.

Every year the forrest fires seem to be bigger and more common then the last. I think if you have children and live in a prone area this book is a wise addition to the library.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking at wildfires through the eye of a child. It's a frightening thing to evacuate a home, and wonder what you should bring with you in those few minutes. This happened in our family in the last few years and the stress was real. It was astonishing the things the families chose to bring in those few minutes. My sister took her fish from the tank? We do crazy things and it's a good thing to think about and plan for.

Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This important book about evacuation from a natural disaster focuses on the child's lack of understanding of the need to choose 3 small things and to hold everything else in her heart as the family flees this fire. In the time they are all packing, Malia discovers what matters most and whispers it to her mother. On the way to their grandparents, their safe space, Malia looks at her most important things in the car with her.

This book could be used to explain natural disaster to students who do not live in areas where there are many. Great addition to a school collection!

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this is a story that will always be timeless regardless of where you live or which year we are in. After all, it's not only during a natural disaster when we have to make difficult choices or learn how to let go. It's a quick read but a bit too short and straightforward for my liking, though I think many will be able to relate to this book. Important themes aside, I also loved the gorgeous art style.

Thank you to Owlkids Books for the Netgalley ARC.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook in exchange for a honest review from netgalley.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book about having to leave home in a hurry and what do you bring. The little girl wants to take everything but in the end realizes what's most important to take... Her Family.

[Robert Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text is honest, straight-forward and reassuring. Illustrations colorful, lively and inviting. Provides a much-needed book to help kids deal with a scary and increasingly common experience. Well done! Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for the opportunity to preview this book.
#NetGalley #Owlkids

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for a book like this for a long time! As more people end up evacuating due to wildfires, more kids are going to need books to help them through the experience. My one objection is that it isn’t clear what 3 items Malia decides to bring. I assume it is her family and the pets but it needs to be explicit for this age group. Otherwise, this is very needed and nicely done!

[Maeve Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is about Maila and her family who are evacuating for a wildfire. The story focuses on her families stresss trying to pack what they can and the journey maila goes on deciding what is truly important to her. I would use this book to teach my students about wildfires and the impact it has on the lives of real people.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. It is sort of a heavy subject for kids but was told in a way that won't scare them. I loved the illustrations. They were colorful and appealing. A good message told for a young audience.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story about a family who must evacuate as a wildfire encroaches on their home. My child was disappointed in the open ending (no real conclusion to the story), but it did serve as a thought-provoking conversation starter on what is important.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe more of a 3.5, since what the girl whispers to her mother is unclear. However, with all the wildfires that have become a part of America's reality I rounded up.

Malia is told she can choose three things to take with her as a wildfire approaches her home and the family is told to evacuate.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about what really matters. When a fire breaks out, a family has to evacuate their home. The daughter tries to figure out what is most important to bring with, and she realizes it is her family.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this book about what really matters

i read a digital advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher