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The Firefighters
Children will want to grab their coats and boots and rush straight to this winsome firefighting tale full of sound words and bright illustrations.
"Weee-ooo! Weee-ooo! Weee-ooo!
Our fi re engines are fast and noisy — just like the real ones."
From sounding the siren to speeding off in their fire engines (empty boxes will do), from finding the fire to expertly putting it out, the children love playing firefighters with Mrs. Iverson. They are brave and strong, just like real firefighters. And after a hard day of fighting fires, nothing is better than having two real live firefighters come to visit and getting to climb aboard their big, red, shiny fire engine!
"Weee-ooo! Weee-ooo! Weee-ooo!
Our fi re engines are fast and noisy — just like the real ones."
From sounding the siren to speeding off in their fire engines (empty boxes will do), from finding the fire to expertly putting it out, the children love playing firefighters with Mrs. Iverson. They are brave and strong, just like real firefighters. And after a hard day of fighting fires, nothing is better than having two real live firefighters come to visit and getting to climb aboard their big, red, shiny fire engine!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2008
About the author
Sue Whiting
53 books45 followersA former primary school teacher with a special interest in literacy education and children’s literature, Sue Whiting has worked in the publishing industry for almost twenty years, both as an author and editor of books for children and young adults.
Sue has written numerous books in a variety of genres: fiction and nonfiction, picture books through to YA, and is published in Australia and internationally. Her middle grade novel Get a Grip, Cooper Jones and nonfiction picture book, Platypus were both named CBCA Notable Books, and her picture book, A Swim in the Sea, illustrated by Meredith Thomas, was the Speech Pathologists’ 2014 Book of the Year. Her latest books include, Missing a mystery/suspense novel for readers aged 10+ and the picture book Beware the Deep Dark Forest, illustrated by Annie White.
Sue was Publishing Manager and Senior Commissioning Editor at Walker Books Australia for ten years, before leaving in 2016 to concentrate on her writing and to work from home as a publishing consultant, freelance editor, writing coach and mentor.
Sue has written numerous books in a variety of genres: fiction and nonfiction, picture books through to YA, and is published in Australia and internationally. Her middle grade novel Get a Grip, Cooper Jones and nonfiction picture book, Platypus were both named CBCA Notable Books, and her picture book, A Swim in the Sea, illustrated by Meredith Thomas, was the Speech Pathologists’ 2014 Book of the Year. Her latest books include, Missing a mystery/suspense novel for readers aged 10+ and the picture book Beware the Deep Dark Forest, illustrated by Annie White.
Sue was Publishing Manager and Senior Commissioning Editor at Walker Books Australia for ten years, before leaving in 2016 to concentrate on her writing and to work from home as a publishing consultant, freelance editor, writing coach and mentor.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 5, 2021
We didn’t finish this book. I guess my little one was too little to understand the pretend play (although he does play pretend). Or maybe it was too long. We didn’t even get to the part where the real firefighters show up.
December 16, 2012
Avery took to this book on first reading and hasn't stopped asking for it ever since. I love that it features exactly 50% male/female characters in a book that would typically be aimed at boys and feature only boys. After reading it at least three times a day for two weeks I'm still not bored with it, which is saying something.
January 25, 2018
The Firefighters is a children's book about a group of three kids who love firefighters. These kids make card board boxes that are suppose to be their firetrucks. They make noises and run around to different places pretending they are firefighters. Eventually there are real firefighters who come and talk to them about what it's like to be a firefighter. The kids enjoy that a lot.
3 book topic ideas
1.) This could be the perfect book to start a lesson over fires and how they start in nature, or anywhere else. (Science)
2.) This could also be a good start to talking about firefighters and what their jobs are. (Special Activity)
3.) This could also be a good start to a lesson about what to do if there is a fire in the school we are in. (Special Activity)
3 book topic ideas
1.) This could be the perfect book to start a lesson over fires and how they start in nature, or anywhere else. (Science)
2.) This could also be a good start to talking about firefighters and what their jobs are. (Special Activity)
3.) This could also be a good start to a lesson about what to do if there is a fire in the school we are in. (Special Activity)
August 27, 2021
A group of students and their teacher pretend to be firefighters — and then a fire truck arrives at school to give them a tour! Such a fun, imaginative story. We are studying about the letter F this week and Elliot LOVES firetrucks , so I basically checked out every picture book about them!
*library book. Read at 23 months
*library book. Read at 23 months
May 9, 2017
This lively book features two boys, one girl, and one teacher pretending to be firefighters and put out a fire. Afterward they get to meet real firefighters. I love one of the firefighters is female. preschool and up for length.
February 18, 2020
Interesting little book for children.
November 5, 2025
A great children's book shows kids having fun and living up to their imagination.
February 9, 2010
Here is the review I wrote for my online review-writing course:
The Firefighters is a story of three preschoolers imaginatively playing firefighters with their teacher, with all the typical sounds included prominently on many pages. The narrator and his two friends pretend to don firefighting uniforms, climb aboard their cardboard-box fire engines, invite their teacher (who barely fits) aboard to rush to the scene and save Lulu's Ice Creamery from a fire. When the pretending is over and the children have “flop[ped:] to the ground – tired and dirty,” the excitement builds again as they hear sirens coming closer. Soon a real fire engine and two firefighters arrive to teach the children about what to do if they are in a building that is on fire, and invite them to climb aboard the real fire engine. The thread of the story is carried by the repetition of the text clarifying that the pretend fire engines and equipment look and sound “just like the REAL ones.” The language is simple, present tense and first person, with dialogue amongst all the characters, although there is sometimes a lack of clarity about who is speaking which words. The inclusion of plenty of onomatopoeia will entice preschoolers to actively participate in a read-aloud. The acrylic illustrations include vivid colors set on a pure white background which lends itself to the simplicity of the story and allows the simple sans serif font to stand out fully. Preschoolers learning about (or obsessed with) firefighters will enjoy this book, but the adults reading it to them will become easily bored with the text due to the lack of any real thread from page to page. There is no notable meter or word play involved that often makes reading picture books to young children enjoyable for everyone. Peter Sis's Fire Truck is a much more sophisticated story for children who love fire engines, but doesn't get at the excitement of having real firefighters visit them at preschool. This book may be a welcome addition to preschool classrooms when preparing for and working up enthusiasm for such a visit.
The Firefighters is a story of three preschoolers imaginatively playing firefighters with their teacher, with all the typical sounds included prominently on many pages. The narrator and his two friends pretend to don firefighting uniforms, climb aboard their cardboard-box fire engines, invite their teacher (who barely fits) aboard to rush to the scene and save Lulu's Ice Creamery from a fire. When the pretending is over and the children have “flop[ped:] to the ground – tired and dirty,” the excitement builds again as they hear sirens coming closer. Soon a real fire engine and two firefighters arrive to teach the children about what to do if they are in a building that is on fire, and invite them to climb aboard the real fire engine. The thread of the story is carried by the repetition of the text clarifying that the pretend fire engines and equipment look and sound “just like the REAL ones.” The language is simple, present tense and first person, with dialogue amongst all the characters, although there is sometimes a lack of clarity about who is speaking which words. The inclusion of plenty of onomatopoeia will entice preschoolers to actively participate in a read-aloud. The acrylic illustrations include vivid colors set on a pure white background which lends itself to the simplicity of the story and allows the simple sans serif font to stand out fully. Preschoolers learning about (or obsessed with) firefighters will enjoy this book, but the adults reading it to them will become easily bored with the text due to the lack of any real thread from page to page. There is no notable meter or word play involved that often makes reading picture books to young children enjoyable for everyone. Peter Sis's Fire Truck is a much more sophisticated story for children who love fire engines, but doesn't get at the excitement of having real firefighters visit them at preschool. This book may be a welcome addition to preschool classrooms when preparing for and working up enthusiasm for such a visit.
May 12, 2009
Miss Iverson’s class loves to play firehouse. “WEEE-OOO! WEEE-OOO!” they cry as they race around the playground using large boxes as surrogate fire trucks and long tubes as fire hoses. After this excitement, “We flop to the ground—tired and dirty.” But their adventure is not over yet as a real fire truck with two firefighters aboard shows up to tell the children about fighting fires and rescuing people. Then the children get to climb into the fire truck and look around. Rawlins’ colorful illustrations show a lively group of students and their teacher enjoying a day of learning and fun. Since Whiting is Australian, she uses the “down under” safety slogan to “get down low and GO, GO, GO!” which may prove confusing to children used to the warning “Stop! Drop! And Roll.” Otherwise, this book about firefighters is a good storytime or fire safety lesson addition.
July 27, 2016
A trio of grade schoolers and their teacher grab their cardboard boxes and makeshift uniforms and head out to extinguish a make-believe fire. Imagine their excitement when real live firefighters appear in their fire engine to teach them about fire safety!
Firetrucks are still a big deal at our house, so this book, needless to say, has already been renewed once (so far). It has an appealing and fairly original illustration style and the story is a fun blend of make believe and real life, with some fire safety tips thrown in. Some of the dialogue feels just a little stiff to me, but The Boy (3) certainly doesn't mind.
Firetrucks are still a big deal at our house, so this book, needless to say, has already been renewed once (so far). It has an appealing and fairly original illustration style and the story is a fun blend of make believe and real life, with some fire safety tips thrown in. Some of the dialogue feels just a little stiff to me, but The Boy (3) certainly doesn't mind.
August 6, 2011
This cute book has all the elements of fun for early elementary and preschool. The children pretend they are putting out the fire with their teacher, Mrs. Iverson. When they finish their playing, she surprises them with a visit from REAL firefighters on their firetruck who instruct them on proper behavior during a fire. Great information in a fun format. Great trade book for school!
January 11, 2009
A book about kids imagining that they are firefighters (at school and using a big refrigerator box) and then meeting real firefighters. Could be a good book to use for a box theme or for Play and Learn storytimes.
February 19, 2011
Fun colorful pictures. I liked the noises and the play/imagination used. It also teaches a bit about fire, but it is kind of a long book. I think it should have left off the part where the real firefighters come in.
April 12, 2011
Great read aloud for pre-k-kindergarten students. This is a story that students would love to act out in readers theater. Good for intro to career day, fire safety week, or just to talk about community helpers.
August 8, 2015
What I like most about this book is Whiting's welcoming embrace of children's imaginative play -- and the incorporation of a teacher who supports and encourages, rather than squelches, that engagement. (Can you tell that the Australia native is a former teacher?!)
June 23, 2009
tre says this book is awsome..lol
June 13, 2011
Great for a preschool or young K community helpers unit. Make sure you have big cardboard boxes on hand after reading to make your own firetrucks!
March 23, 2012
I enjoyed how "The Firefighters" shows the job of firefighters through children's eyes, and the eyes of the real men and women.
July 17, 2012
Good illustrations, weird text.
June 26, 2013
Might be good for a unit on firefighters, but not for a PS Storytime.
July 13, 2016
Cute wee picture book, with clever illustrations and lots of fire brigade sounds sounded out. Good way of getting kids to know how to respond to a fire.
October 19, 2016
good for storytime.
December 10, 2009
"firefighters, pretending"
November 1, 2017
This book is about a class of students and some of them and their teacher were pretending to be fire fighters. They would run across the playground and they would say we have no time to stop we have to go. Then they would my the fire truck noise and everything. After they were done playing they could hear the real thing it was coming our way. The firefighters were actually coming to the school to talk to them about safety and all the different stories they had about different fire calls that they went too.
In my class I would read this book and talk about how you can be anything you want to be. Or another thing I would talk to them is who do they look up to. Because to me in the book the kids were really looking up to the firefighters that came and want to be just like them.
In my class I would read this book and talk about how you can be anything you want to be. Or another thing I would talk to them is who do they look up to. Because to me in the book the kids were really looking up to the firefighters that came and want to be just like them.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews