Fire!: With Ladder Truck [With Toy]

ISBN 1584852119 - Firemen have always been cool to little kids and this book just might have something parents will appreciate, too. The fact that it comes with a Matchbox car doesn't hurt, either. From the alarm to the fire to the clean up in preparation for the next time, Fire! details what happens when that alarm goes off. Firemen slide down the pole, pull on their boots, coats and helmets and they're off - in under a minute! The last two pages are devoted to helping you create your family's plan in case of a fire and helping your child identify the sounds s/he hears when you're driving around (although it doesn't say why you would want to do this). Board book pages are sturdy but, because this book is much wider than it is tall, it's very easy to sort of twist the bulk of the book in a different direction than the cover, pulling it loose from the binding. Just something to keep an eye out for, because it really is worthwhile to tape it back up and keep it in your collection. Lee MacLeod's illustrations cover every inch of every page with bright, exciting, action-packed images. Your child will find the book a page-turner and will enjoy re-enacting that excitement with the toy fire engine and you might appreciate the chance to work out your own family's emergency plan. The book, itself, might merit 4 stars, but the educational aspect and the vehicle put it over the top. - AnnaLovesBooks

We started with one of these books in the Matchbox series and now own ten. (My 2 1/2 year old even knows which ones he's missing to complete the set!) The stories are short and reasonably educational. I think the real appeal, though, are the attractive illustrations and the fact that each comes with a relevant vehicle. The concise nature of the text is also appealing to little ones. Looking at the books, I would never have known they'd be such a hit, but my son's reaction was proof positive.