I Drive a Fire Engine

Children's Literature

Every young reader will identify with Jackson, the driver of the fire engine. Jackson tells us all about fighting a fire—from the moment that the call is received in the firehouse until the fire truck is back in the firehouse after the fire is out. This book presents professional firefighters but does not discuss volunteer firefighting. Teamwork is mentioned in the story, as well as driving safety from the perspective of the fire engine driver and the drivers on the road. Small inset boxes reinforce and expand the knowledge presented in previous pages. The primary lettering typestyle and the use of color to highlight the machine and the driver against the grays and browns of the surrounding environment draw the child's eyes to the important details of the story. The inclusion of different genders in non-traditional roles adds to the quality of this series. Nevertheless, different genders are not included in each title. Helpful pages at the back of the book include a diagram of a fire engine, a glossary, fun facts, web resources, a brief bibliography, and an index. The front and end flaps have tire tracks running top to bottom to add to the attraction of this "working" title. This is part of the "Working Wheels" series, which currently includes 30 titles. Series titles are included in the help pages. This is an excellent early career book for elementary collections. 2006, Picture Window Books, Ages 6 to 8.
—Joyce Rice