His newest adventure visits the fire department, a popular theme for many children. The end pages show an assortment of items, from hoses and fire extinguishers to an old-fashioned rotary telephone. Stanley's fire station, a brown brick building with a red and orange garage door, is ready for a busy day. Stanley and Peggy keep the old-fashioned fire truck and equipment in good condition. They have long ladders to get things out of trees - like kites and "Little Woos" and long hoses for an out-of-control barbecue. Everyone rides the fire engine to the fireworks, with Peggy and Stanley ready to help in case of accidents. After their busy day, Stanley is glad to go home, have supper, and go to sleep.
Of course, these books are not mean to be factual accounts of any of these activities. They're definitely nostalgic and this one doesn't include any dangerous events at all (whether the barbecue is actually out of control is doubtful!) there are no house fires, medical emergencies, or rescue operations, other than getting Little Woo out of a tree!
These are calming, comforting stories for toddlers that give a gentle introduction to different community helpers and careers while creating a colorful, enjoyable environment for them in which to follow the simple story. I would liken these to the Worthington's very British teddy bear stories of my childhood, except for the slight twist of irony included by Bee, which only adults are likely to pick up on!
Verdict: Another delightful entry in a popular series, sure to be a top pick for parents and caregivers of toddlers and for fire safety storytimes.
No comments:
Post a Comment