Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week is October 7 - 13, 2012

This year’s theme is “Have 2 Ways Out” which focuses on the importance of fire escape labels, planning, and practice. Read these fire safety tips and check out the titles below for ways to teach fire prevention.

Have a look back at our previous feature.

Firefighters to the Rescue

Meish Goldish

            Emergencies can happen at any moment, and firefighters must always be ready to save the day. The exhilarating title from “The Work of Heroes: First Responders in Action” series gives readers an inside look at some of the dangerous situations that firefighters face every day. Captivating color photos with informative captions accompany touching stories of heroic rescues and brave actions in dangerous situations. This high-interest work gives children a glimpse inside life at the fire station, methods of job training, and reasons that some choose this dangerous but rewarding career. Included are thought-provoking true accounts of catastrophic events with photos, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. Readers will learn that firefighters are not only called on to extinguish fires, but respond to various other emergency situations as well. Readers will become familiar with different vehicles used to fight fires, including pumper trucks, planes, and fireboats. New or challenging words are printed in bold and are defined in simple terms in the glossary. In addition, a photo showing a firefighter in full gear is clearly labeled, helping readers to understand the purpose of each piece of equipment. While recommended for those at a third grade reading level, this book will appeal to any children who are interested in a firefighting career or who are fascinated by these real-life heroes. 2012, Bearport Publishing Company, $25.27. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Rachelle Andrade (Children's Literature).

ISBN: 9781617722844

Fire Disaster

Chris Oxlade

            The nature of fires and the procedures taken to restore balance after disasters caused by fires are presented within this text. In the beginning, fire is defined and the conditions required for a fire to begin are provided. As further explanation, numerous examples of previous destructive fires around the world are given. These examples give the reader a relatively thorough glimpse into the dangers of fires and the steps that were taken toward restoring communities that experienced such tragedy. The glossary is succinct and informative as it provides clear definitions for new words presented in the text. The illustrations throughout are artistically displayed contributing to the overall artistic yet serious message of the text. The supplemental information, such as Breaking News and At-A-Glance, provide the reader with additional resources to explore for further study of this type of disaster. The index is all-conclusive and provides a nice final piece to an informative book. Part of the “Emergency!” series. 2011, Arcturus Publishing, $28.50. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Allison Fetters (Children's Literature).

ISBN: 9781848379534

Fire Trucks in Action

Anne E. Hanso

            This text is part of the “First Facts: Transportation Zone” series specifically focused on vehicles “in action” that might be of interest to young elementary readers. This particular text, focused on firetrucks, defines what that rescue vehicle can do, provides a short history of how putting out fires all started with human fire brigades and how technology through the years changed fire-fighting approaches, and then discusses how fire engines work today. The book also highlights the features of a working fire truck, how many firefighters typically make up a crew, and finishes with “fire truck facts” that readers should be intrigued by as they move through the text. For example, I didn’t know that Dalmatians became mascots because in the early days of fire trucks, the dogs kept rats away from the horses that pulled the fire tanks. Photos come in two batches: black and white photos (and the occasional painting) present the history of fire fighters, from fire brigades through horse-drawn tanks, while contemporary endeavors are illustrated through photos that show fire trucks and their crews in action today. As with the other books in the series, I continue to appreciate the “Hands On” section that highlights an activity or an action in which younger readers can partake. The Glossary, Read More, and Web Sites sections are solid; an Internet site called “FactHound” with a code offered in the text provides interested readers even more information about firefighting. The text, and the series in general, provides an effective look at a number of vehicles in action in an easy to follow format that will encourage kids’ fluency in reading. 2012, Capstone Press, $23.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).

ISBN: 9781429668248

Rescue Vehicles

Mary Kate Doman

            On both water and land, these rescue vehicles are busy saving people. One or two sentences along with each photo summarize what they are doing. Police cars, helicopters, and ambulances are featured in action photos. A helicopter rescues someone from a boat, fire trucks put outfires, and lifeboats rescue people lost at sea. The photos have some details of interest to young children, such as the close-up of a bell on one of the trucks, and a photo of a helicopter and ambulances that looks like it was taken at the scene of some emergency. The small book is designed for pre-readers, and a note to parents and teachers explains that the text introduces simple concepts with repetition of words and short simple sentences. It contains a table of contents, a word list with photos, bibliographical references, and an index. Free educator guides are available online. Part of the “All About Big Machines” series, this text is informative and interesting. Children who are just learning to read could learn new words with the help of an adult. 2012, Enslow Elementary/Enslow, $21.26. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature).

ISBN: 9780766039346

Saving Animals from Fires

Stephen Person

            When people hear of wildfires they often think of the many animals that may be in danger. It may be relatively easy to save a pet from a home that is at risk of burning, but the problem becomes more involved for people who own multiple pets or who live on a farm. Sadly, most wild animals are in grave danger when a fire begins. Even if they can out run the flames or burrow in the ground, their home and their food sources are often destroyed by the fire. This informative book thoroughly explains how all animals are in danger when fires begin, and it discusses the growing efforts to help save them. Every page contains at least one bright photograph with a corresponding caption, and interesting facts are interspersed throughout. The chapters are two pages long and there is only one paragraph on each page. This book will appeal to readers with an interest in animals, science, natural disasters, or in helping others. It has a glossary, index, and useful bibliographical references, making it an ideal reference source. It is part of the “Rescuing Animals from Disasters” series. 2012, Bearport Publishing, $25.27. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Denise Daley (Children's Literature).

ISBN: 9781617722936

Themed Reviews: Election Part II

History and Humor of Getting Elected in the United States

   Many of those who have run for an elected office are quite aware of their place in history and contemplate how historians may view their actions in the future. Many of those same people would probably want to avoid records that shed a humorous light on their political platforms but also recognize that life can be humorous - even for politicians or especially for politicians. Can you imagine President Lincoln telling jokes? ". . . as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Lincoln reportedly 'kept the House in a continuous roar of merriment.'" Apparently he loved to make people laugh and told jokes even after he was elected. He kept books of jokes to read to friends and visitors to the White House.

   The following selections were gleaned from the rich literature resources found at CLCD and reflect the humor of elections and the elected, as well as some of the changes in the history of elections and voting in the United States.

   Using CLCD made it easy for me to build this list, restricting my searches to those books published since the last election (parameter setting: titles from 2008 through the present). Also, I was able to search for specific ages and particular subjects (ex: election humor). Take the free trial and discover for yourself the power of the database. CLCD will aid teachers, librarians, parents, and others who work with children and young adults. I know that I find it invaluable when I need to have access to vast amounts of information about literature.

Contributor: Sheilah Egan, Literature Consultant

President Pennybaker
Kate Feiffer
Illustrated by Diane Goode

   When his father issues an especially undeserved edict, Luke Pennybaker exclaims the universal cry of children everywhere: "It's not fair!" Not satisfied with just complaining, Pennybaker decides to do something about it. So, he runs for President of the United States on a platform that promises pets for all children, dessert any time of day, optional homework, and most importantly, to make life fair. With his dog Lily as a running mate, Luke heads out on the campaign trail, and the promises continue to grow. The retro style of clothes, cars, and telephones in Goode's illustrations give the story an old-time feel. Her whimsical watercolors energize this timely tale of a grassroots movement and the democratic process. Children will laugh at the idea of an orange White House, as well as the other ridiculous promises made by Pennybaker, but teachers can use the silly story as a springboard for more serious discussion about the election process. Pair this with Cronin's Duck for President for a fun November story time. 2008, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Ages 4 to 7, $16.99. Reviewer: Heather Christensen (Children's Literature). 
ISBN: 9781416913542