Fireman Small - Fire Down Below! [Paperback]

Wong Herbert Yee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Fireman Small is having trouble sleeping—again. A leaky ceiling forces him to leave the station and check in at the Pink Hotel, but he won’t get a good night’s sleep just yet. First it’s the noisy hotel guests, and then it’s the fire down below that gets Fireman Small out of bed and to the rescue!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a sequel to Fireman Small, Fireman Small: Fire Down Below! Wong Herbert Yee presents the teeny tiny firefighter as he flees the rain-soaked station for a drier night at the Pink Hotel. But when Small smells smoke not only must he get all the animal guests to safety ("Stop drop and roll!" he commands), but also find an inventive way to extinguish the fire.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Fireman Small is trying to get some well-deserved sleep. A leaky roof at the fire station keeps him awake, so he decides to check into the Pink Hotel. Then, "Just at the moment his droopy eyes close,/Something disturbing starts tickling his nose." Springing into action, he sounds the fire alarm and leads the guests to safety. He instructs Alligator to take the stairs, not the elevator, and cautions Farmer Pig, "There's no time to dress or make up the bed,/Just grab a wet towel to cover your head." Everyone makes it outdoors, and Fireman Small saves the hotel. The rhyming sentences are well crafted and full of action. Children will relate to Yee's watercolor illustrations of the diminutive firefighter who cannot see over the hotel reception desk and has trouble reaching the door handle. Young listeners will applaud his heroism and learn safety tips in the process.

Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618494928
• ISBN-13: 978-0618494927
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #934,200 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Warm sunny days are outdoor days; bike riding days, running days. Cold, wet, snowy days are indoor days; writing days, illustrating days. In Michigan, there are plenty of days for writing and illustrating. Just as well, I do have to make a living. And I can think of nothing better than writing and illustrating children's books. For more about me and my books visit my blog and website at: wongherbertyee.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our favorite book, July 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fireman Small - Fire Down Below! (Hardcover)

My 3 ½-year-old son loves Fireman Small. He identifies with the fireman's diminutive stature and is entertained by the shenanigans of the silly animals he rescues. We both think Fireman Small Fire Down Below! is the best book ever. The illustrations are deceptively simple. From my son's point-of-view they are easy to understand and lively. I find them witty, complex, and beautifully composed. The singsong rhythm of the text makes it easy for me to read it over and over--as my son demands. Unlike many children's books, this one rewards multiple readings with new surprises. Don't miss the little mouse who turns up in odd places. While this book definitely charms kids, there are also amusing little vignettes that appeal to a grownup sensibility.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fire Safety made fun!, March 5, 2002

By 

Kristi Betts (Irving, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fireman Small - Fire Down Below! (Hardcover)

Fireman Small returns in this humorous story with an important message about fire safety. Yee uses a variety of fire safety words and phrases in order to help young children learn what to do during a fire, for example: No, no, No, not the elevator!, grab a wet towel to cover your head, stop, drop, and roll and others. With the fire on the bottom floor of the hotel, Fireman Small has to help the people get to the roof. In humorous drawings and rhyming text, Yee shows Fireman small feeling the door to see if it is hot, pulling the fire alarm, knocking on doors to get guests out, etc. Great for a read aloud story time, especially during Fire Safety month. Some vocabulary terms (hotel, elevator, stairwell, fire escape) may need to be introduced prior to the reading, particularly in areas where children are not familiar with multi-story buildings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice story, May 5, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fireman Small - Fire Down Below! (Hardcover)

It's raining and Fireman Small's firehouse is leaking. Until the roof is patched Fireman Small will stay at the Pink Hotel. After working all day, Fireman Small expects to have a peaceful night. But when a fire breaks out in the hotel, it is up to Fireman Small to rescue the guests.

Fireman Small: Fire Down Below! has likeable characters, is written in rhyme and has colorful illustrations that will please those youngsters between the ages of two to four.