The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

MacLean, Christine Kole

Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms

32 pp. | Dutton | September, 2002 | Trade ISBN 0-525-46996-6 $$15.99

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Reed. When he's pretending to be a firefighter, a police officer, an EMT, a garbage collector, or another worker committed to serving his community, a young boy is too busy to hug his mom. Children will respond to the titular refrain and to the satisfying conclusion, in which the hard-driving little boy shows his soft side. The warm illustrations play a pivotal role in bringing the boy's active imagination to life.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin