(2) K-3 Something goes awry with the remote to Ben's new fire truck: it's actually controlling Bella's dog instead. Trying to correct the situation only lands all three of them on the ceiling. As in We're in the Wrong Book! and This Book Just Ate My Dog!, this book's bright art, combined with the interactive text and design, invites readers to get involved physically with the story.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by James Burks. Ava and her huge purple kitty, Itty Bitty, check out the fire station's open house in their first easy reader. Unfortunately, Itty Bitty chases the firehouse dog, sets off an alarm, and gets stuck partway down the fireman's pole. The text is somewhat choppy, and softly contoured figures often appear frozen mid-pose. Still, it's a jovial outing with fire-safety lessons built in.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 My Community: Vehicles series. With simple, declarative sentences, these books introduce community vehicles. The stock photos can create confusing narratives--e.g., firefighters rush to a blazing lumberyard then battle flames at a multistory building; Maya waits for mail that arrives elsewhere. The sturdy, high-interest books hit the important notes for library nonfiction collections. Codes provide access to online resources, including activity sheets and videos. Glos., ind. Review covers the following My Community: Vehicles titles: Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Garbage Trucks, and Mail Trucks.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) PS Illustrated by Mike Yamada. Pumper truck Kai joins the firefighting crew, but the other trucks don't think he's capable because he's small and green instead of big and red. During a big fire, his size proves valuable, and he earns everyone's respect. The digital illustrations are reminiscent of television cartoons and include many smiling trucks. The story is surprisingly wordy, and the firetrucks' captain speaks in odd rhymes.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: How Vehicles Work series. Each book gives a cursory overview of its titular vehicle. A simple narrative supplying brief information about purpose, engine, auxiliary equipment, and operator concludes with a catchy closing statement. Bright multicolored pages feature interesting full- and half-page photos. A diagram delineating working parts and random "Fun Facts" are appended. There are three other spring 2016 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Lightning Bolt Books: How Vehicles Work titles: How Do Fire Trucks Work?, How Do Formula One Race Cars Work?, and How Do Tanks Work?.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bob Staake. Rowan yearns for a shiny new fire truck for his birthday, but he receives an older, used model from his grandfather; the man reminisces as he refurbishes "Red," restoring Rowan's excitement through increasingly dramatic stories. Sepia vignettes depict Rowan literally being pulled into memories, and Red's worn textures offer a meaningful contrast to the flat, geometric graphic style that dominates the book's art.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(1) PS Firefighter-wannabes ride along as Engine No. 9 races across town to put out a fire. The simple emphatic text includes many forceful sound words ("WHOOSH"; "WEOOO! WEOOO!"); text placement, color, and size are integral parts of the dynamic illustrations. A concluding celebratory spread balances the story's near-crisis, only revealed once it's safely over. A helpful list of safety tips will reassure anxious listeners.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015

(3) K-3 Seedlings series. With glossy photos and very simple sentences in large type, these well-designed introductions to rescue vehicles are suited to emerging readers new to nonfiction. The texts cover the essentials, including each vehicle's purpose and notable features as well as details of the rescue work being done. A labeled diagram of the vehicle concludes each book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings titles: Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Helicopters, and Rescue Boats.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 More Professional Tools series. Each title directly explains the profession and focuses on four tools of the trade. Many of the color photographs featuring multicultural groups of male and female workers look overly posed, though the photos of actual tools are clear and well labeled. The approachable text and subject matter will be useful for school reports. Matching games and quizzes are appended. Glos. Review covers these More Professional Tools titles: Detective's Tools, EMT's Tools, Firefighter's Tools, and Police Officer's Tools.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Emergency Vehicles series. Large color photos with instructive labels are complemented by short, clear texts introducing the important features and purposes of four kinds of rescue vehicles. Curious machine-lovers will be fascinated by the information and amped up by the frenetic graphics and sound effects (BRRRMM!, CRAASSH!). Helpful appendices include a six-question quiz. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Emergency Vehicle titles: Ambulance Rescue, Police Rescue, Fire Rescue, and Sea Rescue.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. The indefatigable star of The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School joins his class on a field trip to the fire station. After being chased by Spot the Dalmatian, the cookie leaps onto a fire truck, off to battle a blaze. Cartoony illustrations, varying among panels, full pages, and double-page spreads, help set the pace. The bouncy rhymes incorporate some fire-fighting terms.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2013

(4) K-3 Lightning Bolt Books: Vroom-Vroom series. Each book describes the features and functions of a specific vehicle. The accessible texts are simple but informative; each page features a few sentences, a photo, and often a caption or label. Use of different typefaces may be frustrating for new readers, but the engaging texts and back matter (e.g., "fun facts") should draw readers. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Vroom-Vroom titles: Earthmovers on the Move, Fire Trucks on the Move, and Monster Trucks on the Move.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) 4-6 These oversize books feature large captioned photos (many close up and actual size), multiple foldout pages, and accessible texts. The machines' structures, functions, and terminologies are adequately explained, though a glossary would have been helpful. The appeal of these volumes is their gimmicky design; transportation/machine fans will excitedly pore over the posterlike pictures. Ind. Review covers these titles:Fighter Planes Up Close, Fire Engines Up Close, Heavy Equipment Up Close, and Submarines Up Close.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Fighting Fire series. Using limited text and controlled vocabulary, this book introduces young readers to firefighting equipment. Overly simplified statements designed for beginning readers explore types of fire trucks (pumper trucks, ladder trucks) and the tools used by firefighters. Full-page photographs illustrate the machines used to protect communities from disaster. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Owen Smith. Magnus the fire horse is trained to pull the steam-powered fire engines of the nineteenth century. When motorized engines are invented, he is put out to pasture but keeps jumping the fence and beating the new truck to the fire. When the truck breaks down, Magnus saves the day. Strong oil paintings full of action illustrate the dramatic tale.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Buddy Books: Mighty Movers series. Each book in this series poses two questions--e.g., "What is a train?" and "What do trains do?"--to examine six types of large machines. While the topics may be of interest to some children, the books are too superficial to give more than cursory information. Those wishing detail will need to look elsewhere. However, the many photos add interest. Glos., ind. Review covers these Buddy Books: Mighty Movers titles: Dump Trucks, Earth Movers, Farm Tractors, Fire Trucks, Monster Trucks, and Trains.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) PS Illustrated by Ant Parker. Three gleeful critters dress as firefighters, drive a big red engine, put out a fire, and even rescue someone in this follow-up to Dazzling Diggers, Roaring Rockets, and Terrific Trains. The rhyming text and brilliant yellow- and red-hued cartoon-style watercolors strike a light tone that plays up the age-appropriate allurements of firefighting.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey