Customer Reviews

The Little Fire Engine

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lois Lenski's _The Little Fire Engine_ was first published in the 1940s. The pictures look a little bit dated and corny. Don't let that fool you. This is the best firefighter picture book; it's the standard by which all others have since been measured.

In the story, Fireman Small races with the other firefighters to the scene of a fire, where they save a girl and her cat, locate the blaze, and extinguish it. They return to the firehouse. The story is so incredibly simple, but the author has laid everything out so that a child can learn so much from this book. Questions are answered, and children who know a lot about firefighters will have their curiosity piqued by everything in this book, from the "nang, nang, nang, nang goes the bell" to Fireman Small chopping a hole in the roof.

My son and I have looked through lots of firefighting picture books, and I think _The Little Fire Engine_ is simply the best I've seen.

ken32

This is my two and a half year old son's ABSOLUTE favorite book. He asks to read "Fireman Small" every day at naptime and at bedtime too. ( we usually read it several times each sitting!) He has had this book since he was 12 months old and it was an instant hit with him. His favorite part is when fireman small saves the little girl and her kitten, he throws his arms up and yells Hooray! It is a great book about an everyday hero (fireman small). The classic illustrations are wonderful and a breath of fresh air in this computer generated age. I would highly reccomend this book for any toddler.

All children's books do not age equally.

In some cases, like the nature stories of Eric Carle or the epics of Margaret Wise Brown, the date of the story is almost invisible, because the subject is so universal and well-told. In other cases, like the Little Engine that Could, we understand that this is an "old story," but the message is important enough that we can look past or even enjoy its age. Age might even be a teachable moment, to explain to our children that things change over time.

The fatal problem with the Little Fire Engine isn't that it is poorly drawn or poorly illustrated; in many ways it is a beautiful book. The problem is that any childrens' story about fires and fire fighters will necessarily have to deal with safety, and while Lenski has given careful attention to the sounds and appearances of the the fire engine, she has neglected the proper response to a fire, which was just as important in 1946 as it is in the 2000s.

The most obvious example of this is what happens when Fireman Small arrives at the scene of the fire: "The family carry sofa, lamps, tables, and chairs out of the house." Several pages later:

'"Oh, look!" Everybody looks. A little girl is standing at the upstairs window. She has a kitten in her arms.'

What kind of family is this that meticulously saves all of their furniture but hasn't cleared their children from danger? And to take the complaint a little further, what is the importance of material possessions next to human life?

A few pages later, Fireman Small steps onto the roof and starts whacking at the roof with his axe. This makes him a very bad fire fighter; real fire-fighters don't gamble with their lives. They test the sturdiness of anything they're standing on, and most often, their efforts are directed at the source of the fire, lower down, instead of the tips of the flames.

Positive reviewers argue that the datedness of this book can be ignored or embraced. It's well crafted and well designed, and we shouldn't worry about the fact that the pictures are old-fashioned. They are right that these are not issues, and it is an attractive book. However, as an introduction to the nature of fire and fire-fighting, the Little Fire Engine fails at all of its most important tasks. It is not enough for such a book to show a well-drawn fire-engine and its scrappy little driver. Parents and readers would be better served to find a book that can balance a spirited and well-crafted telling with the seriousness of fires and the importance of safety.

Fabulous to see the Lois Lenski books reprinted. They have been a favorite of mine since I was a child and now my children enjoy them tremendously. Informative, wholesome, and terrific stories that have lasted the test of time. Don't miss out on these!

I got this book for a great nephew because both he & his older brother thought an earlier Lois Lenski book had been their favorite. It has met their expectations - something many writers don't achieve.

My son is almost 2 1/2 and he loves this book. We read it everyday, at least once, and he has almost memorized it, but he loves it anyway. We also have The Little Train, and that one is great, too.

My 2-year old son and I enjoy all of the Lois Lenski "Little" and "Small" books. This story is fun to read, easy to understand and thought/discussion provoking. We LOVE anything Fire Truck - but this is an absolute favorite!

I never cease to be amazed at how our kids are drawn to these books. I mean, the Lenski books are 70 years old. The drawings are goofy as all get out. The wording isn't exactly what I'd have chosen. But the kids love 'em. All our kids request these books over and over. You'll pick up a copy and you'll think, geez, I bet there's something a little newer or cooler. Don't bother. The new stuff will sit on the shelf and dry rot. These old classics have something going on. Why else would they keep issuing new printings?

We cannot say enough positive things about Lois Lenski books. They are comprehensive inside glances at professions and stages of life for children. Our nephew adores all of them. His favorites are The Little Fire Engine, Papa Small, and The Little Train. We read them over and over. Do not hesitate to purchase any of these books.

My two year old does not talk alot yet but this book gets him so excited that it is the most I hear him babbling. It is simple enough for a two year old but there is actually a story here that should grow with him in the next few years. There is so much happening in the book and my son points to every part of firetruck. He loves the sounds that are in the story. For example, he loves the bell that goes "nang, nang" and the siren that goes "oooheee". He loves that Fireman Small climbs up the ladder to save the girl and her kitten. It is fun to watch him follow and point along with this story. When the people stop on the side to watch the firetruck go by, my son even points to the people pictured. He has learned all about the parts of the firetruck too. This book has turned him on to fire engines now. I am going to look at other book by this author. The pace of the book is perfect for my son.