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Eddie Wilson #2
Eddie and the Fire Engine
A delightful children's book about family life, pets, and of course the fire engine.
153 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Haywood
62 books78 followersCarolyn Haywood was an American writer and illustrator from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She wrote 47 children's books, most notably the series under the "Eddie" and "Betsy" titles.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 4, 2025
2025 Reading Challenge: written by an author of over 20 books
9 year old me would have given this book at least 7/5 stars, and the nostalgia alone meant I had to give it 5. How could I not? Eddie is hilarious and endearing. I think the author of The Anxious Generation would be impressed by his and his brothers adventures. Like bringing their goat and wagon to the grocery store to shop for their mother. Classic 😂
9 year old me would have given this book at least 7/5 stars, and the nostalgia alone meant I had to give it 5. How could I not? Eddie is hilarious and endearing. I think the author of The Anxious Generation would be impressed by his and his brothers adventures. Like bringing their goat and wagon to the grocery store to shop for their mother. Classic 😂
October 20, 2020
Our whole family just loves Eddie. Even my hubby listens in to see what he's up to. "Hey Hun. Wanna read to the girls downstairs tonight?" 😘 Sure dear. 😉
May 3, 2023
These books are the best!! So wholesome but also hilarious! The best mix
July 27, 2019
Such a simple book, with such simple storylines. Eddie has various adventures that circle back to a certain fire truck. That's it. No fantasy characters, no magic, or strange storylines. Just kids being...kids.
I love the Eddie books. They're refreshing, and beautiful snapshots of a life from a long time ago. I find something very fascinating and also satisfying in all of that. Definitely recommended!
I love the Eddie books. They're refreshing, and beautiful snapshots of a life from a long time ago. I find something very fascinating and also satisfying in all of that. Definitely recommended!
May 18, 2020
I liked it.
July 30, 2021
Eddie is a hoot! Kids loved this read aloud.
July 1, 2024
It was really good
November 15, 2015
This is the book with the Eddie story that I remember the most vividly, about the ill-fated shopping trip that the boys take with Gardenia the goat. A fire engine goes by, and the boys run off to chase it-- and so does the pie delivery man, leaving the back of his truck unattended. Gardenia smells something sweet and pulls out the trays of pies and devours twenty-two pies, for which the pie man demands the huge sum of $16.80, which is far more than the $10 that Mrs. Wilson gave the boys for their shopping trip.
The other stories are about the September fair, not going to dancing school, Anna Patricia's false teeth getting lost, Eddie's search for an original Christmas card design, how Eddie acquired Gardenia the goat, and the September fair coming again at the end of the book. At the first September fair, which is the day before Eddie's birthday, Eddie is cross with the weather man for forecasting fair weather but ending up with rain.
In the second to last chapter, Eddie tries to auction Gardenia off to raise money to buy the old fire engine that Mr. Ward wants to get rid of, but raises only 30 cents. The buyer is a fireman who changes his mind about Gardenia being a mascot for the fire department after she eats all their pies at the September fair.
Perhaps the funniest chapter is when Eddie boards Gardenia with his friend, the policeman Mr. Kilpatrick, while negotiating with his father whether he can bring the goat home:
"It's my goat, Mrs. Kilpatrick," said Eddie. "And Mr. Kilpatrick says I have to talk to Papa, so he won't give it to the Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Kilpatrick says I have to use-- what kind of dip is it, Mr. Kilpatrick?"
"Diplomacy," said Mr. Kilpatrick.
The main point that Eddie brings up in the goat's favor is, "Well, it's an awful nice goat" (p. 141, 143, and 145). Whether he's bringing his goat home or trying to get to dancing school, Eddie always manages to get around town in style in the old-fashioned fire engine that sits in Mr. Ward's car lot.
The other stories are about the September fair, not going to dancing school, Anna Patricia's false teeth getting lost, Eddie's search for an original Christmas card design, how Eddie acquired Gardenia the goat, and the September fair coming again at the end of the book. At the first September fair, which is the day before Eddie's birthday, Eddie is cross with the weather man for forecasting fair weather but ending up with rain.
In the second to last chapter, Eddie tries to auction Gardenia off to raise money to buy the old fire engine that Mr. Ward wants to get rid of, but raises only 30 cents. The buyer is a fireman who changes his mind about Gardenia being a mascot for the fire department after she eats all their pies at the September fair.
Perhaps the funniest chapter is when Eddie boards Gardenia with his friend, the policeman Mr. Kilpatrick, while negotiating with his father whether he can bring the goat home:
"It's my goat, Mrs. Kilpatrick," said Eddie. "And Mr. Kilpatrick says I have to talk to Papa, so he won't give it to the Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Kilpatrick says I have to use-- what kind of dip is it, Mr. Kilpatrick?"
"Diplomacy," said Mr. Kilpatrick.
The main point that Eddie brings up in the goat's favor is, "Well, it's an awful nice goat" (p. 141, 143, and 145). Whether he's bringing his goat home or trying to get to dancing school, Eddie always manages to get around town in style in the old-fashioned fire engine that sits in Mr. Ward's car lot.
January 31, 2024
Eddie Wilson loves collecting things. His family calls his pile of things in the attic junk, but Eddie refers to his possessions as "valuable property". At his town's September Fair the town's old fire engine is on display. For ten cents anyone can ride in it. Eddie, donning the "fire" hat (really a silk top hat) and carrying the fire bucket that he wins in the fish pond, he takes a ride and falls in love with the fire engine. Eddie vows that someday it will be his. Mr. Ward, the local car dealer, buys the engine. Eddie loves to visit it and sit on it's big, broad seat. At Christmas Mr. Ward sits a stuffed Santa in the driver's seat. Eddie decides to have his picture taken with Santa in the fire engine to use as Christmas cards. Unfortunately it starts to snow right after Eddie decides this. By the time Eddie and his father can get to Mr. Ward's car lot the fire engine is covered with snow. Only Santa's hat's red tassel is showing. Eddie has his father take a picture of that and puts it on his card. When his friend's Christmas cards begin coming Eddie sees that everyone had their picture taken with the Santa (before the snowstorm) in the fire engine. Eddie's picture is unique. Just before the next September Fair Mr. Ward tells Eddie that the engine will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Eddie tries to save money but only has $12.30 by fair time. A man in the back of the crowd outbids him and pays $20. The next morning is Eddie's birthday. He looks out his bedroom window to see the fire engine parked in his driveway with a big sign, "Happy Birthday to Eddie from Papa".
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
October 24, 2016
The book that started my life as a reader, so glad I have a copy of my own (from the local elementary school's withdrawn books). I can remember the school librarian reading a chapter to our first grade class and I was enthralled. I asked her if I could borrow it on the spot, but she had to save it to read to her other classes. I asked my father to bring me to the public library so I could immediately get a copy of my very own to read, and thus started a lifelong habit of reading; I've never looked back . . . . . Do you remember the book that started your love of reading?<
February 22, 2013
Cute story!
July 14, 2016
I Loved it
July 25, 2016
Dated but still a fun read for children. I read this one out loud to our grandson.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews