Firefly Season

Written by the award-winning, bestselling author of Jingle Dancer, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), and filled with tender illustrations by Kate Gardiner (Nipmuck), this unforgettable, warmhearted picture book is for family and the friends who become family.

Piper feels grateful for visits with her relatives, especially for the time spent with her cousins in Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Nation during summer vacations, fishing on misty mornings and playing on firefly-filled evenings. Piper’s family lives a road trip away in Kansas City. So when a neighbor named Sumi moves in next door, Piper is excited to share her stories and seasons with a new friend. 

The two are inseparable—until Piper’s family moves to another city. Their bond overcomes distance, and with time, Piper dreams up a plan to reunite with the people she loves most of all.

What does it take for two friends to stay family, even when they live far apart?

• A Heartfelt Moving Away Book: Helps young readers navigate the tough feelings that come when a friend moves, showing that goodbyes don’t have to be forever.
• Native American Characters: Join Piper as she shares her family’s traditions from Muscogee Nation and Cherokee Nation, from summer fireflies to eating grape dumplings.
• Multicultural Friendship: A beautiful story that celebrates the bond between Piper, a modern Indigenous girl, and her new neighbor Sumi, whose family is from India.
• Social Emotional Learning: A gentle and reassuring story that provides a perfect starting point for conversations about friendship, change, and the families we choose.