Learning About Fire Rescue and Other Emergencies September 11 - Talked About and Understood America the Beautiful Dealing with Grief and Loss The Different Faces of Islam The Greatest City Reviews Ambulances Eric Ethan    This entry in the easy-to-read "Emergency Vehicles" series features large print and plenty of white space to attract older readers who have high interest but low reading skills. The text defines the emergency vehicle's uses, points out the people who use the gear, and mentions some of the tasks each performs. Photographs emphasize machines with close-ups of equipment, dashboards, and special gear, and a little less on the situations in which they may be used. Unfortunately, for today's multicultural populations, there are no people of color pictured, which is a real disadvantage especially given the school populations which are likely to be attracted to the topic. Photographs are clear, clean, and in this case, feature men Emergency Medical Technicians posing with their ambulance equipment. A glossary, index, and other series books and Websites are included. But purchasers should be wary of what is implied by the pictures. 2002, Gareth Stevens, Ages 7 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-8368-3044-X Baron: Rescue Dog Lola Schaefer Illustrated by Ned Butterfield    Baron helps his friend Ted find a lost girl who's holed up in a mountainous desert cave. The emphasis of the story is on a working rescue dog. While the girl is reunited with her family, the story ends with Baron eating from his dog bowl while Ted naps on the couch waiting for "their next rescue call." Each book in the "Books for Young Learners" series is keyed on the back jacket to Emergent, Early, or Fluent readers, a scale which spans K-2 readers and this one is keyed to the middle ranges. Word choice and pictures work closely together to give new readers a chance to practice reading skills with an adult or independently. A nonfiction note provides more information about rescue dogs and mentions which dog breeds are generally trained for the job. It is a topic with plenty of child-appeal and Butterfield's paintings convey the German Shepard with the seriousness and warmth befitting a rescue animal. 2000, Richard C Owen, Ages 5 to 7, $5.00. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 1-57274-246-1 The Big Burn Jeanette Ingold    In the summer of 1910 one of the largest wildfires in the states of Montana and Idaho changed the methods of firefighting used today. Hundreds of blazes were ignited by lightening, campfires, and from sparks thrown off by trains. These smaller fires combined and formed an incredible force. Walls of flames threatened and destroyed forests, homesteads, animal habitats, and towns. Caught in the melee were three young adults. Lizbeth and her aunt were hoping to sell the valuable timber. Seth, a black soldier, was hoping to prove himself and live up to the standards of his father. Jarrett escaped his overbearing father and ended up in a race for his life when caught in a raging wildfire. Their lives were entwined during an amazing six weeks of incredible danger. The story is captivating and will soon have the reader enthralled in events that happen all too often as fires threaten during drought conditions. Woven throughout the story are field notes that chronicle the actual events of the era. Young adult readers are sure to be enthralled by the frightening dangers faced by the three young heroes. 2002, Harcourt, Ages 12 up, $17.00. Reviewer: Laura Hummel ISBN: 0-15-216470-7 Big Red Fire Truck Ken Wilson-Max    "Clang! Clang! The alarm goes off in the fire station." The fire truck comes out the doors and races down the street. The ladders are raised and water and foam are shot onto the flames. Young children will enjoy participating in this interactive book. They can open the doors to the station by lifting the flaps. They can slide the fire truck along the road, lift the ladder, and spin the blades on the TV news helicopter. And if that isn't enough, they will probably want to verbally make the sounds for the horn and siren. The brief text makes it appropriate for the age group. The pages and the tabs are sturdy, though a few of the items, such as the truck moving along the road, may not hold up to a toddler's eager fingers. This will be a big hit. 2001 (orig. 1997), Cartwheel Books/Scholastic Inc, Ages 2 to 4, $7.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo ISBN: 0-439-24024-7 Dolores and the Big Fire Andrew Clements Illustrated by Ellen Beier    It is hard to imagine someone living alone, but Kyle was an older fellow who lived in an older house all by himself. One day a kitten (Dolores) became a part of his household. They were friends but Dolores wasn't one who liked to be petted or cuddled, though she was obviously very fond of Kyle. One night she jumped on his head and scratched him. What was wrong? The house was filled with smoke. It was a narrow escape for both and a truly heartwarming ending. This is a true story, part of the "Pets to the Rescue" sub-series within the "Ready to Read" series, Level 1. Illustrations are featured on every page and show Dolores and Kyle as ordinary folks, but kids will come away knowing that Dolores was an extraordinary cat. 2002, Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 7, $15.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-689-82916-7 Fire Engines Eric Ethan    This entry in the easy-to-read "Emergency Vehicles" series features large print and plenty of white space to attract older readers who have high interest but low reading skills. The text defines the emergency vehicle's uses, points out the people who use the gear, and mentions some of the tasks each performs. Photographic emphasis is on the machines with close-ups of equipment, dashboards, and special gear, and a little less on the situations in which they may be used. Unfortunately, for today's multicultural populations, there are no people of color pictured, which is a real disadvantage especially given the school populations that are likely to be attracted to the topic. Photographs are clear, clean, and in this case, feature all men posing with their firefighting equipment and uniforms. A glossary, index, and other helpful trade books and Websites are included. But purchasers should be wary of what is implied by the pictures. 2002, Gareth Stevens, Ages 7 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-8368-3045-8 Fire Fighter Piggywiggy Christyan and Diane Fox    What do you want to be when you grow up? Pose this question to toddlers and fire fighter will often be the answer. Piggy Wiggy is an appealing little piglet that shares the same childhood dreams. As he watches a fire engine race down the street, Piggy Wiggy dreams of the things he would do if he were a fearless fire fighter. He thinks of wearing a fire hat and sliding down a pole to rush to an emergency in the fire engine, with lights flashing and sirens screaming. He wonders if he could climb up a ladder to save someone, or rescue someone who is stuck in a deep hole. And, of course, it isn't all work. Piggy Wiggy could spray water on his neighbors on a hot day and help them cool off with the same hose he would use to put out a roaring fire. Piggy Wiggy knows what to do when he has a small, but real, emergency. He calls the real fire fighter. The illustrations are done in bold primary colors and the text is simple, making this a story toddlers will enjoy more than once. 2001, Handprint Books, $9.95. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford ISBN: 1929766165 Fire Trucks! Melissa A. Torres Illustrated by Thomas LaPadula    Here is a book with wheels. Three wheels make this title literally roll along. Unsnap the bright red clasp to read the words, which tell about fire engines and hydrants, aerial ladder and rescue trucks, the fire chief's truck and a fireboat. The illustrations are clear and colorful; the people shown represent many races and both sexes. The word Tonka appears on each vehicle, and, indeed, this is copyrighted by Hasbro, the toy company that owns the trademark, Tonka. The text is age-appropriate, and the illustrations show firefighters who seem to enjoy their work. A warning on the back of the book says it is a choking hazard and not for children under 3 years. A very appealing title. 2001, Scholastic, $9.95. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Candace Deisley ISBN0-439-25904-5 Fire Trucks Darlene R. Stille    Author Darlene Stille is known for her nonfiction and in this new series entitled "Transportation" she invites readers to learn about a variety of vehicles (airplanes, big rigs, boats. fire trucks, freight trains, police cars, race cars and tractors). The photographs are big and bold and many fill a page and about a third of the accompanying page on a spread. The text is also big and bold and provides facts as well as asking readers questions. For example, in Fire Trucks, she asks kids to think about what type of truck would be useful if a farmhouse catches fire and there is no fire hydrant nearby. The trucks in the picture are super tankers which carry lost of water in them. Airports have special fire fighting trucks because water will not put out the fires caused by airplane fuel-instead these fire trucks spray special foam. A few words in the text are highlighted in a different color and are defined in the mini glossary. This is the one section of the book that probably could have been enriched or dropped. The Did You Know section has lots of trivia and the two page Want To Know More section has references to books, web sites (kid friendly ones) and places to write and visit to learn more about fire trucks and firefighting. A good series for early elementary and those kids at home who constantly fire questions at parents about things they are curious about. There is a table of contents, index and brief blurb about the author. 2002, Compass Point, Ages 4 to 8, $19.93. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-7565-0288-8 Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey Maira Kalman    1931 was a significant year for New York City. According to Kalman, the Empire State Building was dedicated, the George Washington Bridge which spanned the Hudson was completed, and the John J. Harvey joined a dozen other fire boats in New York City Fire Department. At it launch it was "the largest, fastest and shiniest" of them all. As the years passed, the need for fireboats lessened and in 1995, the Harvey was sitting useless and waiting to be sold for scrap. Fortunately that didn't happen. A group of friends bought and restored the fireboat, but the two working fireboat crews were pretty sure that the old Harvey could never be used during a fire. Then on that fateful day of September 11, 2001 when the Twin Towers fell to the terrorist onslaught, the group that had restored the Harvey knew what they had to do. They and the other boats pumped water for four days and nights and the efforts were duly recognized with a National Preservation Award. Kalman's art will appeal to kids. It details the boat and those who served on it. Her picture of the exploding Twin Towers and ensuing conflagration may be disturbing to young kids, but when read within the comforting arms of an adult or security of a classroom, the disaster can be discussed understood and accepted. For kids who need to understand more, parents, teachers and caregivers may find other books such as 911 Help or Understanding September 11th useful to answer questions. Note: portions of the proceeds from this books will be donated to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund. 2002, Putnam, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-399-23953-7 Firedog Lisa Desimini    Bold oil paintings illustrate a story about Dot, a Dalmatian who serves as a member of a multi-cultural team of men and women working out of fire station number 21. The story begins and ends in the calm of the firehouse with Dot sound asleep by the firefighters' big rubber boots. When the alarm sounds, the firefighters rush to put out a blaze of unknown origin. Dot helps her team rescue a sick old man from an upstairs bedroom, then goes on to rescue a little kitten all by herself. The pictures and text depict typical activities of the firefighters before, during and after a call. Desimini portrays events that can be very scary to young readers in a way that informs but does not frighten. The book ends with a list of "Dot's Fire Safety Tips," which can serve as a jumping off point for discussions about fire prevention and safety both in school and at home. 2001, Scholastic/Blue Sky Press, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Ellen R. Braaf ISBN: 0439233224 Best Books: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States Firefighter Frank Monica Wellington    The events of September 11, 2001 have certainly brought into focus the role of firefighters, policemen and other rescue workers. Wellington dedicates this book to "the brave men and women of the New York City Fire Department." Frank the firefighter is on duty and young readers learn about a typical day-checking and cleaning equipment, teaching school kids about fire safety, shopping for food since most firefighters spend one or more nights at the firehouse. In this story Frank has just prepared a delicious dinner when the alarm rings. All thoughts of food are gone as the firefighters race to the scene. It is a burning building and a young girl and her kitten are rescued. The fire is contained and all of the equipment must be repacked before the exhausted crew can head back to the firehouse. It may be cold, but the untouched dinner is delicious when you are hungry and tired. The illustrations are bright and bold and the firefighters are kids making it easier for young ones to relate to the actions and activities. The closing page includes safety tips from Firefighter Frank. Note: portions of the proceeds from this books will be donated to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund. 2002, Dutton/Penguin Putnam, Ages 2 to 5, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-525-47021-2 Firefighters A to Z Chris L. Demarest    This book arrived just in time for fire safety week, making it the perfect trial situation. It was a big hit with the kindergarten. The format is a familiar "A is for...", but the text has a rhythm that keeps it fresh. A storyline is contained within the format. It takes the reader from the first ring of the alarm to a fire scene, and ends with the tired firefighters zipping into bed for a rest. Interesting objects are introduced throughout the story--ones that are foreign to those outside of the field. The author, who is a volunteer firefighter, adds a note at the end of the story to explain the dangers of fire and why it is so important to educate children about the business of firefighting. Large, colorful illustrations dominate each page to bring the simple lines of text to life. 2000, Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carol Lynch ISBN: 0689837984 Best Books: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States Choice List, 2001 ; Children's Literature; United States School Library Journal Book Review Stars, December 2000 ; Cahners; United States State Reading Lists: Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003 ; Kentucky Fireman Small Wong Herbert Yee    Fireman Small is an engaging book & cassette that follows the day in the life of a small town fireman. Fireman Small tries to sleep but each time he does the phone wakens him to another job for him to do. He rescues a cat up a tree and a bunny down a well and puts out a fire in the Hippopotamus' bakery. This repetition is found in the story itself which will delight young readers and listeners. Told in rhyme, this is a wonderful listen for those emergent readers who want a book every ten minutes! The cassette has clear signals for the non-readers to turn the page and the narrator speaks clearly and with enough enthusiasm to keep young listeners tuned in. The book & cassette are packaged in a clear plastic carrying case with a special spot for the cassette itself to reduce jostling. A perfect package for home and travel! 2002 (orig. 1994), Houghton Mifflin Co., Ages 3 to 8, $9.95. Reviewer: Joan Kindig ISBN: 0-618-21619-7 Helicopters Eric Ethan    This entry in the easy-to-read "Emergency Vehicles" series features large print and plenty of white space to attract older readers who have high interest but low reading skills. The text defines the emergency vehicle's uses, points out the people who use the gear, and mentions some of the tasks each performs. Photographs emphasize machines with close-ups of equipment, dashboards, and special gear and a little less on the situations in which they may be used. Unfortunately, for today's multicultural populations, there are no people of color pictured, which is a real disadvantage especially given the school populations which are likely to be attracted to the topic. Photographs are clear, clean, and in this case, feature men pilots posing in the cockpit and with their helicopter medical equipment. A glossary, index, and other series books and Websites are included. But purchasers should be wary of what is implied by the pictures. 2002, Gareth Stevens, Ages 7 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-8368-3046-6 New York's Bravest Mary Pope Osborne Illustrations by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher    Osborne states in her "Historical Note" that Mose Humphreys was "America's first urban folk hero." He was a firefighter in New York City in the mid-nineteenth century. According to legend, "Eight feet tall, Mose had hands as big as Virginia hams." He single-handedly lifted trolleys out of the way and saved babies from burning buildings. One night, he ran in and out of a burning hotel and brought everyone to safety. Yet when the fire was finally out, Mose was missing. As with all folk heroes, rumors circulated that Mose was seen out West. But one old timer finally said, "Mose is right here...Whenever we save folks, he saves them, too. You see, that firefighter—he'll never leave us. He's the very spirit of New York City." The illustrators depict this larger-than-life figure with a strong square jaw. They capture the buildings and lifestyle of the period, with dramatic scenes and small details. How nice it is to have a beautiful book on one of the lesser-known American tall tale heroes. Dedicated "To the memory of the 343 New York City firefighters who gave their lives to save others on September 11, 2001," this is both timely and timeless. 2002, Alfred A Knopf, Ages 5 to 9, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo ISBN: 0-375-82196-1 ISBN: 0-375-92196-6 Out of the Fire Deborah Froese    Dayle is enjoying a fun-filled summer with her boyfriend, one of the most popular boys in school, until a night of partying brings horrible consequences—Dayle is severely burned as a result of a careless fire. The novel is Dayle's journal of healing both physically and mentally after the accident. Dayle deals with her physical injuries and the emotions they bring as well as coming to terms with the recent death of her beloved grandmother. In dealing with her grandmother's passing, Dayle uncovers some long-hidden family secrets which surprisingly help her come to terms with her own problems. Themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and discovery are strong in this novel. 2001, Sumach Press, Ages 11 to 15 $7.95. Reviewer: Debbie Gingerich ISBN: 1-894549-09-0 Police and Emergency Vehicles Arlene Bourgeois Molzahn    Part of Enslow's "Transportation and Communication" series, this volume describes vehicles from police cars to helicopters, emergency procedures on land and sea, and jobs resulting from police and military rescue work. The author, who does not appear to have any special expertise in this field, has introduced some human interest in her opening chapter by relating a search for two lost toddlers at a campsite. She goes on to list various rescue vehicles, touch briefly on historical examples, and cover improvements in automobiles, ambulances, and helicopters through the years. A great deal of emphasis is placed on brand and corporate names of the vehicles' makers. A little too often, mention is made of controlling supposedly wrongdoing crowds and pursuing and apprehending lawbreakers, including the use of electric shock guns. The pedestrian prose is choppy and over-simplified, making it rather boring even for a reluctant reader who may be attracted to the subject matter. Although chapters are short, it might be helpful in some cases to provide space or subheadings for greater clarity. The book is illustrated with photos, the historical ones being of the greatest interest. Possibly useful as a limited reference book, this volume will probably appeal mostly to readers already interested in police and rescue work. A very short timeline and glossary are provided along with a bibliography and two Internet addresses. 2002, Enslow, Ages 8 to 11, $18.95. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft ISBN: 0-7660-1890-3 Police Cars Eric Ethan    This entry in the easy-to-read "Emergency Vehicles" series features large print and plenty of white space to attract older readers who have high interest but low reading skills. The text defines the emergency vehicle's uses, points out a woman police officer who uses the gear, and mentions some of the tasks each perform. Photographs emphasize machines with close-ups of equipment, dashboards, and special gear and a little less on the situations in which they may be used. Unfortunately, for today's multicultural populations, there are no people of color pictured, which is a real disadvantage especially given the school populations which are likely to be attracted to the topic. Photographs are clear, clean, and in this case, featuring a blond woman in a Wisconsin department (according to the car license plate) posing by the car. She seems to be without a gun, surely the first thing child readers would look for. A glossary, index, and other series books and Websites are included. But purchasers should be wary of what's implied by the pictures. 2002, Gareth Stevens, Ages 7 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-8368-3047-4 Rescue Boats Eric Ethan    This entry in the easy-to-read "Emergency Vehicles" series features large print and plenty of white space to attract older readers who have high interest but low reading skills. The text defines the emergency vehicle's uses, points out the gear, and mentions some of the tasks each perform. Photographs emphasize the sheriff's boat with close-ups of equipment, dashboards, and special diving gear and, unlike other books in the series, only picture a two-man crew on the last picture. As in other books in the series, there are no people of color pictured, which is a real disadvantage especially given the school populations which are likely to be attracted to the topic. Photographs are clear, clean, and in this case, show two men from the sheriff's department on the rescue boat. A glossary, index, and other series books (Donald Cres's Harbor is mentioned), and Websites are included. But purchasers should be wary of what is implied by the pictures. 2002, Gareth Stevens, Ages 7 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-8368-3048-2 Rescue Trucks Betsy Imershein    Most kids and especially young boys seem to be fascinated by big vehicles. In this series that includes (Trucks, Construction Trucks, Rescue Trucks and Farm Trucks) there are lots of large vehicles in the truck family for kids to see and learn about. In this particular board book, young ones will see and begin to learn facts about different kinds of rescue trucks. It opens with the fire engine, the one most kids have probably seen and then introduces, police cars, utility trucks, hook and ladder rescue and fire trucks and ambulances. Each photograph is set out on a colored page with the name in big bold letters followed by one or two sentences that discuss what the machine is designed to do. It seems a bit strange to include a police car in a series about trucks, perhaps it might have been better titles rescue vehicles. Helpful to those who live in the city where many of these vehicles may be seen. 2002, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 mo. to 4, $5.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-689-84710-6 To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.