Customer Reviews

"Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

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.

I have found the problem. Amazon is publishing the reviews in both of the pages, the Richard Egielski illustrated version with people in the city with a helecopter on the front (and blonde woman inside) and the one illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky with the cute mice inside. Clearly they are different books with the completely different illustrations. Keep that in mind.

My daughter checked this book out of the library and made me read it to her over and over again. I didn't see the appeal of this book! But she loved it. So for Fire Safety week with my preschoolers, we read this book. They loved it! My god, they made me read it over and over and over again. They followed me around the room and made me read it. I still don't see the appeal. But kids love this book. Each Mrs. is on the proceeding page, they tell the story of a fire in an apartment building. It takes a bit of explaining for 4 yr olds to get the concept of a flaming cake, but they got it. They even counted the candles. The old lady is represented by about 30 candles---thanks to the author for that one!

Please pay attention! The book "Fire, Fire said Mrs. McGuire" by Bill Martin Jr. and Vladimir Radunsky is not the book to which amazon has attached these two reviews. These reviews refer to another edition of the book. Also, almost every comment is directed toward the OTHER edition of this book. Bill Martin's book features not a blonde woman, but mice and kitty cats. Please be conscientious of what you write. This is fine book for children.

As a k-2 school library assistant, I have been a fan of Bill Martin Jr. for many years so when I saw his name on Fire, Fire Mrs. McGuire I did not hesitate to order the book for our Accelerated Reader collection. The verse is delightful and most of the pictorial content is funny and detailed but As I read the book I was appalled with two illustrations in particular that are extremely sexist. The firemen depicted in the book are seen leering at a very sexy, blond, flirting female. In this age of being politically correct, I do not see the need to exploit men or women in children's literature. It portrays sexual discrimination in both directions as well as giving a mixed message. Women are strong and capable on the one hand but sex objects on the other. I found it to be very inappropriate material for a book directed at young children. What kind of message do we want to project; That women get men to act foolish and irresponsible (the fire fighters are more concerned with the blond than with catching a falling fire victim or pursuing the fire) by being flirty and sexy? That is the message I feel the illustrations depict and I would not recommend this book for children of any age. I am very disappointed that Bill Martin would be associated with illustrations such as these. Richard Egielski, you started out well with this one but I think you forgot who your audiance is.

I owned this book when i was a little girl and now that i have a son, i want him to be able to read it and know that females are not just a second class citizen and that they can hold positions that men are able to hold. This book also shows that you should not believe everything you see, there is probably something else going on if you dont see the whole picture.