Synopsis
Miss Popper's first grade class is taking a field trip to the firehouse. Carlos wants to play a trick on his classmates, so he hides in the back of the fire truck. But the joke is on Carlos when the alarm rings, and the firefighters are called to an emergency. Lucky for Carlos, it's not a fire —it's a cat stuck in a tree. The firefighters are too heavy to climb the tree, so it's up to Carlos to save the day!
Children's Literature
The first graders at Appleville Elementary have been learning about fire safety. After practicing "Stop. Drop. Roll," they take a surprise field trip to the fire station. Firefighter Tom shows Miss Popper's class around the firehouse, then lets them ring the fire bell and slide down the fire pole. They even get to meet Sparky the fire dog, which makes Carlos, the animal lover, happy. But when Carlos gets tired of Marika's teasing, he decides to show her how well he can hide. His hiding place turns out to be too good, though, and he gets separated from the class. While the others are looking for him, Carlos must face his fear of heights to help a kitten. In this brief chapter book, several themes are covered: firefighting, hide and seek, teasing, and individual fears and accomplishments. The story ties these all together smoothly. The characters feel realistic and likeable, though Marika's teasing seems particularly nasty for a first grader. The consequences of the children's actions are clearly shown, including Carlos's running off and the emotional cost of Marika's unkindness, but these lessons are subtle and a natural part of the story. The simple story and fun, cartoon-like illustrations will attract young readers, and the vocabulary, while appropriate, will challenge them to learn more. This is the second in the "Appleville Elementary School" series, but hopefully not the last. Reviewer: Jennifer Lehmann