Dot the fire dog - Softcover

Desimini, Lisa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439452295 ISBN 13: 9780439452298

Publisher: Scholastic, 2002

Synopsis

Simple text and playful images come together in an appealing picture book about a day in the life of a fire dog. "A bold, engaging outlet for preschoolers' perennial fascination with firefighters...The rich paintings will reward readers as they comply with repeated requests for this likely hit." - The Horn Book

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

Desimini's (Sun & Moon) day in the life of a firehouse dog seems uncharacteristically dull. The events themselves offer drama firefighters rescue a man in a burning house while Dot rescues the man's kitten but the matter-of-fact text and the static oil paintings are so low-key that they do not convey the excitement inherent in the plot. Devoid of dialogue or imagery, the narrative is occasionally interrupted by directives to the characters: "They pull on their big rubber boots and put on their pants and their jackets. Don't forget your helmets. You, too, Dot." But whether they are running, eating a bowl of soup or sliding down the firehouse pole, the multicultural men and women of the firehouse seem frozen in space. Their faces remain grim whether they are putting out the fire or playing checkers. The fire safety tips at the book's conclusion may be useful for fire safety lessons but, despite the cheery Dalmatian-spotted endpapers, this is a rather antiseptic view of these everyday heroes at work. Ages 3-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 2-A simple story on a perennially popular topic. The circular tale begins and ends in the firehouse, a surprisingly cozy spot where Dot "sleeps by the firefighters' big rubber boots." Called away from their leisure activities, the dalmatian and her colleagues suit up to answer an alarm. When they reach a burning house, one firefighter rescues a sleeping man while Dot finds and carries out a tiny kitten. The fire is eventually put out and, their work done, the firefighters return to the firehouse. A short list of fire-safety tips appears on the final page. Desimini's bright colors and uncluttered compositions perfectly suit the straightforward style of her text. Whether picturing the firehouse, the city streets, or the burning house, the paintings offer quirky perspectives and unusual angles. The artist includes both genders and a variety of races on her fire-fighting team, but of course the real star is Dot, the fire dog.

Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0439452295
• ISBN 13: 9780439452298
• Binding: Paperback