Reading Level: Grade 1 Interest Level: Grades K – 1
When a building is on fire in the city, who can help? It’s time to call the city firefighters! Learn how these brave heroes use special clothes, tools, and fire trucks to put out dangerous fires and keep the city safe. Dynamic photos paired with carefully leveled text celebrate these firefighter heroes.
tudents may be surprised to learn about the diverse and important jobs firefighters have, and this exciting, simply written, and fact-packed series about the profession should keep readers turning pages. Each volume opens with a three-part “Teaching Tips” feature that adults can use to help support readers. New vocabulary is boldfaced and defined in the glossary. Each title describes the protective gear, vehicles, and special equipment each type of firefighter uses, and dramatic, high-quality photographs depict their tools and daring rescues. Labeled photos enhance vocabulary development; occasionally, pronunciation guides are included. Throughout the series, highly skilled professionals are called “heroes” and are portrayed as racially and ethnically diverse men and women. Readers will learn facts they likely never knew, e.g., wa-ter alone can’t quench fires at airports, since plane fuel makes fires so hot that “a special foam” must be used. Each book concludes with the phrase “Thanks, firefighters!” Back matter includes a picture glossary, an index, a bibliography, and a link to the publisher’s website for more information. VERDICT: Recommended for schools and public libraries.
Do you need to update your community helpers section of your library? This four book set geared toward your youngest learners is perfect! Each of the four books focuses on a different type of firefighter. Titles include: Smoke Jumpers, Firefighters on the Water, Airport Firefighters and City Firefighters. Simple text and exciting photos that illustrate each firefighter’s type of job in an emergency situation are very engaging. For example, Smoke Jumpers starts with a forest fire scenario and moves through the course of fighting the fire, showing equipment and the work of the smoke jumpers. There are several important nonfiction text features in these books. A basic table of contents and index show the book’s organization for young readers. Headings are clearly identifiable and students can easily find the sections they want. Unfamiliar words are in bold type and defined in the glossary. Each two page spread has a short passage and large photo that illustrates the text. Many of the photos are labeled to further note the important details. Additional exploration is possible with suggested books and webpages noted at the end. These books are a well-organized and appealing introduction to different firefighting jobs and a sound purchase for those libraries looking to update their collection. Teachers will appreciate the many nonfiction text features. Students will love these books, because they are exciting and fresh, with many different types of people doing jobs that kids might want to do in the future Highly recommended.', Candy Ranney, South Sound Book Review Council, Washington,'From fighting fierce blazes at sea to parachuting into smoke-filled forests, these firefighters take on some of the world’s most dangerous missions. Discover how these brave heroes battle extreme fires, what gear they rely on, and the powerful tools that help them do their jobs. The reviewer received the titles Firefighters on the Water and Smoke Jumpers. Firefighters on the Water discusses simply that: firefighters who work on the water! Firefighters need to use different tools and equipment when a boat is on fire or an item near the water, such as a dock. This read will showcase some of the bravest and how they help in dangerous water-based situations! Smoke Jumpers showcases the firefighters who get called when the forest is on fire. These firefighters use special planes, equipment, and parachutes to tackle the wilderness at some of its worst times! THOUGHTS: An engaging read for young readers who love some of the bravest people in the world: firefighters! This series is unique as it focuses on specialized areas of firefighting, rather than combining information into one basic category. These books are filled with vivid, heart pounding pictures that young readers will love!
