Fly, Firefly

by Shana Keller, Ramona Kaulitzki (Illustrations)

One evening at dusk a wind current carries a lone firefly out over the sea. Glancing down into the water, the insect is mesmerized by the glowing bioluminescence, mistaking it for other fireflies. Seeking company, the firefly plunges into the waves. Luckily, there are human bystanders who can lend a hand. Based on an event witnessed by nature writer and ecologist Rachel Carson (The Sea Around Us and Silent Spring) where a firefly attempts to join its "family" in the ocean, this lyrical story written in verse perfectly illustrates the wonder and delight the natural world offers those who pay close enough attention. Back matter includes science facts about fireflies and bioluminescence, as well as information about Carson's life.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Storytime, Science, Poetry, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, ebook

Published March 1, 2020

About the author

Shana Keller is passionate about history. She began her studies of African American history at the University of Miami in Florida and has delved deep into our nation’s diverse past ever since. She is the author of several award-winning picture books including Do You Know Them? Families Lost and Found After the Civil War, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; Ticktock Banneker’s Clock, Best STEM book, Children’s Book Council; and Bread for Words: A Frederick Douglass Story, an Irma Black Award Honor. Other titles include Fly, Firefly!; The Peach Pit Parade: A World War I Story; The Sole Man: Jan Matzeliger’s Lasting Invention, a EUREKA! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Honor; and soon to be released, CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella (2025). Shana has traveled her whole life and has lived all over the United States and in Europe, too. Shana currently resides in North Carolina where she continues to write stories linking our past to the present.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Fly, Firefly by Shana Keller on a recommended book list. I read this ebook using Epic. This lyric rhyming poem was simple, yet flowed really well. This story was about a firefly that got caught in the wind and lost out to sea looking at the different organisms that light up (just like him) until a little girl saves it. I loved how the words flowed with the illustrations, almost making it into a concrete poem. The use of light and dark illustrations also made the firefly stand out in the story. There is also a section in the back that talks about true facts of bioluminescence organisms. I would recommend this book for early elementary students. This book would be great when working with rhyming sounds since it is a quick and simple text. It would also be a good book to learn more true facts about the sea-especially for the bioluminescence organisms, used as a read aloud book.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful lyrical book about how a firefly is confused by bright bioluminescent sightings in the ocean. A woman and her niece save him and give him the wise advice to return to his family, where he belongs. Giving away a copy on my blog! Enter by December 9.https://carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com...

[Rene Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly beautiful book! The lyrical text about a little lost firefly and the people who rescue her is endearing. I think parents and grandparents will enjoy reading the simple text to their little ones.
And the illustrations are so big and breathtaking! A real treasure!

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little firefly follows the sparkling lights seen on the ocean and gets lost in the waves! Thankfully he is rescued by a young girl and her aunt who, understanding that the sparkles in the sea are bioluminescence, not fireflies, help the lost firefly back to the trees on the shore. The girl, Marjie, is depicted with brown skin and straight black hair, her aunt with brown skin and curly dark brown hair.

While the rhyming text is sometimes awkward, this is still a lovely STEM book celebrating the magical qualities of nature. Backmatter provides information about Rachel Carson and bioluminescence.

Themes: STEM, Ocean, Helping
Age range: 4-7

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This charming and gentle book, based upon a real incident in the life of ecologist Racheal Carson, depicts a woman and young girl walking along the seashore on a firefly-filled summer night. Suddenly, the spot a firefly struggling in the shallow water, attracted by the bioluminescent sea life sparkling in the waves. They scoop up the bug, allow him to dry off and fly on his way.

FLY, FIREFLY a sweet and calming story that realistically depicts an act of kindness, with illustrations that almost seem to glow on the page. It would be an ideal bedtime story that imparts a valuable lesson that kids and adults can emulate themselves if they encounter a small creature in trouble.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely picture book tells the story of a firefly who seems to confuse the bioluminescence of the sea with the signals of other fireflies. A child and her aunt rescue the insect and return it to its natural environment.
The simple rhyming text and large beautiful illustrations make this a good choice for younger readers/listeners. The book also offers a fun way to introduce the concept of bioluminescence. Tie-in with insect studies, summer activities.
For older students back matter is included about Rachel Carson, on whose experience this story is based. Tie-in with Earth Day.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two girls (or perhaps a mother and daughter), rescue a hapless firefly who has ventured into the sea after mistaking bioluminescence for some friends. This tale is based on a letter written by Rachel Carson to a friend about her encounter with a firefly.
A sweet story with stunningly beautiful artwork by Ramona Kaulitzki.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a firefly who flies over the ocean and gets lost in the sea. And then it describes the bioluminescence of the sea that attracts the firefly. Read the book Nightwalk to the Sea and the two books describe the fireflies and their attraction to the sea and what happens. Both books are on a similar topic and informative and colorful.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations capture the magic of the firefly and its heroic journey, but the simplistic story stifles that magic with a skeletal rhyme scheme that fails to flesh out so much of the fascinating backstory, which is relegated to the jacket and endnotes. Kudos to Keller for rescuing this idea from Rachel Carson’s letters and fulfilling her wish to write a children’s story.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this are absolutely gorgeous. The (first) page, with the wind and trees... 😍 I love it. The story was more “okay” to me. Very simple. I liked that it rhymed, though! And I enjoyed that it covered land and sea a bit. It was a little too old for my toddler niece, but we did enjoy it all the same.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated with a flowing cadence that carries the reader through the story. The informational text at the back of the work is perfect for readers curious to know more about the book. Great potential for storytimes.

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations in this text are gorgeous, but the text is overly simplistic, except for the word “bioluminescence” thrown in there once.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh..wasn't super impressed.

[Dana Storytime Account · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the color scheme of illustrations for this story, it was darker than most picture books but it worked really well to make the light pop.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the illustrations here! The story of a child rescuing an insect resonated with my daughter who also loves to do that. :)

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two bystanders see a firefly get swept up by the sea and save it.

[Elona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a correspondence by Rachel Carson about a firefly mistaking bioluminescence in the ocean for its fellow fireflies (who also produce bioluminescence).

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautifully luminescent, so appropriate for fireflies.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little story of a firefly who has lost its way, until a girl and her aunt set it on the right path.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't skip the back matter.

[Mia J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the inspiration behind the story - a firefly that flew into the ocean because it thought the lights in the water was part of its family.

[SL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the illustrations but wasn't impressed with the text. It was very simple and didn't demonstrate the intention of the story nearly as well as the back matter did.

[Jihad Mahmoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautifully written and drawn
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The drawings and the art are stunning and enchanting ✨

[Nila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great graphics and simple sweet story my toddler loved the pictures. She has never seen a firefly in real and it's funny how she would explain to someone what a firefly is.