My Fire Engine - Hardcover

Rex, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805053913 ISBN 13: 9780805053913

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 1999

Synopsis

A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection.

A young child imagines that he is a firefighter, and narrates the action as the siren rings and the firefighters put on their gear, race to the scene, and save the day. Readers are taken on an exciting ride from the start of a fire to the suspense-filled finish. When his work is done, the young firefighter puts away his truck --until next time!

This book is just right for young readers: simple and accessible, yet chock-full of details, right down to the firefighter's fire-resistant pants and coat. Fire safety tips are included in the back.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Rex grew up in Chatham, New Jersey, and studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is the illustrator of Floating Home, by David Getz, and the author-illustrator of The Painting Gorilla. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 1-A young boy takes out his toy fire truck and narrates an adventure filled with excitement and danger as he and his fellow firefighters battle a blaze. The story flows freely as the author blends factual information into the text: "I jump into the Pumper Engine and we're off. The siren blares to let people know we're coming." The action continues at the site of the fire with various firefighters assuming important roles: "The ladder crew breaks windows and makes holes in the roof to let out the heat, smoke, and poison gas." The house is saved and everyone is safe, including the family's pet rattlesnake. The last scene shows the boy in his room playing with realistic-looking toy fire engines, a cardboard "house," plastic figurines, and a small toy snake. This charming story is neatly illustrated with colored-pencil cartoons featuring bright reds, potent greens, and cheerful yellows, all of which look extra sharp on the crisp white background. Fire safety tips are displayed on the back cover. A nice addition for collections where this is a hot topic.
Lisa Gangemi Krapp, formerly at Sousa Elementary School, Port Washington, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

For the same audience that took to Peter Ss's Fire Truck (1998), a spirited little educational fantasy from Rex (The Painting Gorilla, 1997). In a very young voice, a small boy describes his work as a firefighter. He covers equipment and tactics in crisp, no-nonsense sentences: ``I jump into the Pumper Engine and we're off. The siren blares to let people know we are coming. The Aerial Ladder Truck is right behind us. We drive quickly, but very safely.'' For so staccato a beat, the text is surprisingly soothing and quite authentically ingenuous. Softening the litany of fire-fighting facts (``The engine carries 750 gallons of water. That's equal to 25 full bathtubs'') is a modest episode of heroism in which a pet snake is rescued from the flamesall in a day's work. Adding an overall note of warmth in vivid red, yellow, and blue are Rex's colored-pencil illustrations, a medium that here is unrivaled in its welcoming and immediate appeal. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0805053913
• ISBN 13: 9780805053913
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32