Emergency! (Carolrhoda Picture Books) [Hardcover]

Margaret Mayo (Author), Alex Ayliffe (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Carolrhoda Picture Books

Rescue vehicles race to help during a variety of emergencies.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Help is coming! It's on the way!" With that reassuring refrain, Mayo and Ayliffe (previously paired for Dig Dig Digging) team up once again for a paper-over-board book about specialty vehicles, this time narrowing their focus to 11 machines that come to the rescue on land, water and sky when a crisis hits. For instance, on a spread that begins, "Forest fire blazing emergency!" Mayo introduces fire-fighting planes that "zoom up and away./ Swoop, swoop, swooping, water scooping,/ Help is coming. It's on the way!" Ayliffe translates the scene into cut-paper collage layering torn yellow and orange paper to give depth and animation to the flame, and depicting the water dropped by the plane with a gauzy, translucent paper. Ayliffe renders the rescue vehicles as a large, center-stage presence in most of the spreads, sure to please fans of big trucks. A potent combination of timely subject matter and a bright, upbeat presentation of vehicular heroes in action. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-An engaging subject and bold, colorful illustrations guarantee this picture book an enthusiastic audience. Mayo showcases 11 emergency vehicles, highlighting the circumstances in which each might be of service. Four-line verses accompany each oversized spread, and a turn of the page brings a new scene, a fresh crisis, and a different vehicle. This fast-paced approach may leave some children wishing for more detail on fewer subjects, but in fact it suits the energetic rhythm of the text. If Mayo's rhymes occasionally falter and some word choices seem weak (can cars really "dash"? How do fire-fighting planes "scoop" water?), most listeners won't even notice as they eagerly examine Ayliffe's bright, collage-style illustrations featuring people of all ages in diverse roles and a range of ethnicities. When at last all of the emergency calls are over and "the rescue vehicles are all tucked away," odds are good they'll be called out again by eager listeners who will want to revisit the scenes and appreciate how quickly help arrives.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876149220
• ISBN-13: 978-0876149225
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,060,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous illustrations., April 15, 2003

By 

C. Skeen (Somewhere near Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Emergency! (Carolrhoda Picture Books) (Hardcover)

It's a pity that there is no picture to accompany this listing as the illustrations (vivid, yet simple collage-type) are one of the best things about the book! It's also a bit bigger than most books, so the illustrations really stand out. My son (who just turned four) is obsessed with vehicles, especially vehicles that assist or rescue others, and this book really covers them all -- from the obvious ones (fire engine, ambulance, tow truck) to the less obvious ones (search-and-rescue helicopter, fire-fighting plane, flood raft, breakdown train, snowplow, traffic police motorcycle). Each double-page layout is devoted to one type of vehicle and situation. The last pages show all the vehicles in the places where they "sleep" for the night in a kind of overview of the town. This is perfect for reading at bedtime because of these last pages. (What's also nice about this illustration is that some of the vehicles are partially hidden or tucked away and so my son can "find" them each time.) The book is ... is hardcover and printed on heavy stock, so it's a keeper.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a "must-have" for any home library!, April 13, 2005

By 

L. Finlinson (Saint Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Emergency! (Carolrhoda Picture Books) (Hardcover)

We checked this book out at the library a few weeks ago, and have been renewing it over and over since then. I just don't think we can part with it, because my two kids (2 1/2 & 15 months old) still ask for it every night. However, we're going to have to give it back to the city library, so I logged on this afternoon to buy a copy. We've never had a library book he loved like this one, and I love the perspective on rescue vehicles it gives. Instead of being afraid of the sirens and flashing lights, my two-year-old is learning the positive thought "Help is on the way!" The book is written in rhymes that are assembled well and fun to read, and my son is captivated by the words and the bright, vibrant pictures. It's really a fabulous book for not just little boys who love cars (although it is that, too), but for any small child to teach respect and trust for our various real-life rescue heroes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book!, October 14, 2006

By 

Javajane (Huntington, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emergency! (Carolrhoda Picture Books) (Hardcover)

We had this bok read to us at our library storytime by a firefighter and my 2 yr. old son had to check it out. So far I read it 3-5 times a day but I don't mind.

It is fun to read and the illustrations are bright and vivid. We will have to buy this one too! Perfect book for your toddler!