What Is the Story of Smokey Bear?

＂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＂--

Steve Korté is a former editor for DC Comics. He is now a freelance writer and has written books for DC Comics and Warner Bros. In the Who HQ series, he has also written What Do We Know About Bigfoot?, What Do We Know About the Loch Ness Monster?, and What Is the Story of Wonder Woman? He lives in New York City.