Fireman Small

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. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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Rhymed verse and tidy watercolors describe how a fireman rescues Farmer Pig's cat and all the other animals in town. Ages 2-6. (Aug.) Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information.

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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.

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PreS-Gr 2-Fireman Small by Wong Herbert Yee (HM, 1994) is a humorous story about the adventures of a one man fire department. Every time Fireman Small gets into bed, the alarm rings and he has to go out on call. A cat is stuck in the farmer's tree, a young rabbit falls into a well, and the hippopotamus's bakery catches on fire. The last time the door bell rings at Fire Station Number Nine, it is all his animal friends coming to thank the Fireman for saving them. The cassette opens with a welcome to listeners and instructions to listen for a siren sound as the page-turn signal. There are a few background sounds and some electronic music. The male narrator reads clearly and with enough expression to make the story interesting for the youngest audience. This cassette and book will be used again and again in preschool and kindergarten classes, and the plastic carry-along bag is sturdy enough to hold up to the constant handling it will receive.-Linda R. Skeele, Western Elementary School, Georgetown, KY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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PreS-Gr 1-Fireman Small, the only firefighter (and seemingly the only human) ``this side of the bay,'' has a never-ending job. As soon as he pulls into station number nine, walks upstairs, gets into bed, and pulls the covers over his head, the alarm sounds, and he is called off to rescue yet another hapless cat, or rabbit, or hippopotamus in his unusually diverse community. He may be exhausted, but he is also greatly appreciated by those he protects. Young children will enjoy the drama of this plucky firefighter's rescue missions and the coziness of his dollhouselike quarters. Brown-skinned Fireman Small and his faithful Dalmation make a charming pair, and this simple rhyming story is endearing.-Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information.