Fire Fighters

From Publishers Weekly "When the fire bell r-i-n-g-s, fire fighters stop whatever they are doing." And so begins this stripped-down look at the day in the life of fire fighters who, in this case, happen to be a crew of dedicated dalmations. With short, uncomplicated sentences well suited to preschoolers, Simon takes young readers from the fire scene ("Turn on the hoses. Whoosh! Whoosh!") to the clean-up at the station after the truck returns ("Pants and coats go up on hooks. Boots stand in a straight row.") However, Paparone's stiff, uninspired gouache paintings add little, offering no more than a strict visual interpretation. Ages 2-4. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal PreSchool-K?A warm, inviting look at the workings of a firehouse, featuring dogs as characters. The factual details are presented in the simple, straightforward, and age-appropriate text: "Fire fighters wear masks to help them breathe through the smoke. They search upstairs and downstairs to get everyone out." Paparone's bright gouache illustrations showcase a firehouse full of dalmatians engaging in a variety of action-packed activities, showing just how busy firefighters' days can be. Her colorful and eyecatching pictures complement the text by showing each of the events in an uncluttered, appealing format. For more detailed information, try Katherine Winkleman's Fire House (Walker, 1994) or Susan Kuklin's Fighting Fires (Bradbury, 1993). Overall, Fire Fighters is sure to be popular with young audiences.?Lisa Marie Gangemi, Farmingdale Public Library, NYCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.