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The Firefighters (Sue Whiting, Walker Books, $27.95 hb, ISBN 9781921150296, April) *****

Opening with a lovely celebration of imaginative play, The Firefighters follows a group of small children deeply involved in a pretend game of rushing to put out a shop fire. Vivid and highly effective pictures and text successfully communicate the energy and excitement of the game. Then, to the delight of the children (and reader), a real fire engine arrives, complete with real firefighters! The enthusiasm and intense interest of the children is contagious, as they learn what to do in a fire and are given a chance to board the engine. From its appealing cover onwards, this book is a treasure trove of delights: the generously proportioned teacher squeezing into a cardboard box ‘fire engine’, a partially painted red wall making the perfect ‘fire’ to aim hoses at, the children’s pride, as they practise pretending to escape a fire, at having real firefighters watching them. There’s a tremendous sympathy and understanding of the age group demonstrated, as well as a true marrying of words and illustrations. It’s not only hugely enjoyable but a very useful introduction to fire safety for pre and early schoolers. Highly recommended for three to five years and an absolute must for preschool libraries.

Jenny Gorman is a bookseller at Megalong Books in New South Wales

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2008, Thorpe-Bowker