Emergency Vehicles

Children's Literature - Amy S. Hansen

Part of the "How It Works" series, Parker examines the normal fire trucks and coastguard boats, but also the ambulance helicopters, bomb disposal robots, and underwater rescue submersibles. While web links are provided for more information, this book does a particularly good job of anticipating more questions, and answering them right away. For example, when discussing a police patrol car, Parker explains how the flashing light works. "In one design the light does not flash at all—it is a bulb that glows continuously. A shiny bowl-shaped reflector turns around it, making the bulb's beam whirl around. To the onlooker it appears to flash." Each vehicle is covered in a two-page spread with many pictures, long captions, and boxes of information. There are web links at the top of each double-page spread. While there is no strong narrative, Parker's tone is does a good job of pulling you into the exciting information. Backmatter includes an illustrated glossary, and index. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen