"Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire [Paperback]

Bill Martin Jr (Author), Richard Egielski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Smoke is rising in the city, but help is on the way. Join the rescue brigade on a wild adventure at the scene of a most un-expected fire! A lively rhyming text, hilarious illustrations, and an outrageous cast of funny females will keep children laughing all the way to the surprise ending. “From beginning to end, Egielski’s rumble-tumble stage business and inventive subplots combine with Martin’s comic puns and rhythmic verve to make this picture book a five-alarm delight.”--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A modern adaptation of an old nursery rhyme, Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. McGuire combines the whimsical illustrations of Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Richard Egielski with the playful one-liners of Bill Martin. When Mrs. McGuire, a television news anchor, hears about a fire from a reporter flying over the city in a helicopter, a hilarious transfer of information begins. "'Where? Where?'" said Mrs. Bear. 'Downtown!' said Mrs. Brown." The story climaxes as the fire department arrives in a flurry to extinguish a blaze that turns out to be the candles on elderly Mrs. Wear's birthday cake.

From Publishers Weekly

The slapstick humor and fast-paced action of this version of an old rhyme begin immediately on the cover: "Fire! Fire!" shouts the title as the WXYZ Helicopter news team spots the smoke. In signature rhymed verse, one line per page, Martin supplies the simple dialogue ("'Where? Where?' said Mrs. Bear. 'Downtown,' said Mrs. Brown") while Egielski fills the pages with tumultuous events and a modern-and human-cast of characters. Mrs. Bear is a Carol Channing look-alike wearing an enormous fur hat and coat, and Mrs. Kitty ("What a pity!") is a bespectacled waif with an apartment filled with cats. Throughout, the women star: Mrs. Kopp ("Near the top!") is a police officer directing the crowd, and Mrs. Chi ("Let me see!"), a photographer, records the events. At the end of the book, the men and women firefighters find to their surprise that the smoke is caused by the many candles on old Mrs. Wear's birthday cake. From beginning to end, Egielski's rumble-tumble stage business and inventive subplots combine with Martin's comic puns and rhythmic verve to make this picture book a five-alarm de-light. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152275622
• ISBN-13: 978-0152275624
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bill Martin Jr, an elementary-school principal, teacher, writer, and poet, held a doctoral degree in early childhood education. His many books, among them the bestselling classics Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?; and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, are a testament to his ability to speak directly to children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am proud of my work on this story, December 16, 2010

By 

Richard Egielski - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire (Paperback)

Fifteen years ago I was asked by the publisher, to illustrate a new interpretation of "FIRE! FIRE!" SAID MRS. MCGUIRE, written by Bill Martin Jr..

I thought of doing the characters as animals. Mrs. Bear and such, but as I pondered the text, it offered the opportunity to show women characters in many professional occupations and funny situations. Having grown up in New York City, I daily experienced all types of people doing all sorts of things, good and bad. Also, I had studied picture book illustration with Maurice Sendak and one, of many, things he taught me was never to condescend to children. They see the world, they are resilient. Life happens to children as well as adults. Do not underestimate their strength. So, in "FIRE! FIRE!" I drew an honest, diverse group of people.

There are too many adults who have a very orthodox, limited, conventional idea of what a "children's book" should be. All they will accept is goody goody propaganda to force feed to children. Just read some of these reviews.

I gave many presentations of my work at schools and conferences and when I showed the slide of the image that some here find objectionable, the audience, whether children or adults, would always burst out laughing. I did not have to say a word. It is just funny. Lighten up!

I am very proud of my work on this book. Bill Martin, himself, told me that it was one of his favorite interpretations of his words.

Richard Egielski

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars To teach rhyming, September 5, 2005

By 

Alice "teacher" (Kentucky, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire (Paperback)

We use this as part of a text series to teach rhyming. It is good for that. I don't really get the "story". I have to admit that I have never noticed the page where the firefighters are so interested in the blond. I guess I need to look at it more closely this year. However, since I've used it for 4 years and have never noticed it, I'll bet my students haven't either.

Update (Oct 13, 2006) - The version of this book we use is not the same one (with the offensive illustration). I guess this one might not be advisable. My students do love the rhyming text.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. McGuire, July 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: "Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire (Paperback)

The rhyme and story in this book are so much fun to read, they would keep young children asking to read it over and over. However, I do not feel I can use it in my classroom because of one illustration. A sexy blond is using her body to get what she wants from firemen-very inappropriate for young children! Bill Martin, please bring back your original version of this wonderful book.