Children’s Book Review: The Fire Cat by Esther Averill
The Fire Cat
Series: The Cat Club
Author: Esther Averill
Illustrator: Esther Averill
First Published: 1960
64 Pages
Reviewed By: Cristina
Book Description:
Pickles the fire cat to the rescue! Pickles is a young cat with big paws who wishes to do big things with them! When he’s adopted by the local firehouse, Pickles works hard to be a good fire cat. He learns to jump on a fire truck. He learns to help put out a fire, and he even helps out in a rescue. Beginning readers will cheer as Pickles gets his wish and finds something big to do with his paws. With sweet illustrations from author-illustrator Esther Averill, this Level One I Can Read book is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.
Cristina’s Review:
Pickles is a stray cat who has big paws and no idea what to do with them. His favorite pastime is bullying kittens smaller than himself. But when he finds himself stuck up a tree in a storm, a new friend helps him find a better way to live. Will Pickles do great things with those big paws like his friend hopes he will?
The Fire Cat is a classic beginning reader book. As in, it was Ms. Cristina’s favorite book in first grade! This is a nice book for chapter introduction as well. There is an illustration on each page to encourage readers. Pickles learning to use a fireman’s pole is one of the best! While the story is about a cat becoming a fire cat and working with the fire department, it is also a story with some great Social Emotional Learning opportunities. Homelessness, bullying, kindness and giving someone a chance to prove themselves, self-esteem, community–it’s all there for discussion if you want to use the book in that manner. Otherwise, it’s just a great story for first-third graders. Who am I kidding? I’m an adult and the story still makes me smile!
Book Review: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Wild Robot
Series: The Wild Robot #1
Author: Peter Brown
Published: April 5, 2016
279 Pages
Reviewed By: Cristina
Book Description:
Can a robot survive in the wilderness?
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is–but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home–until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.
Cristina’s Review:
What would happen if a robot with AI (artificial intelligence) capabilities was washed up on an island with no humans? It would become a WILD robot, naturally! ROZZUM unit 7134–Roz for short–finds herself in a world unlike the one she’s been programmed for. Roz must learn how to communicate with all the animals on the island in order to survive. She eventually becomes part of the island family, but Roz knows something her animal friends don’t. She knows that the factory that made her will eventually figure out she’s missing. And they will send something to find her. How will Roz protect her new family and keep her freedom? Read The Wild Robot to find out!
I really enjoyed this story. Peter Brown did a great job of exploring two really thoughtful topics: community and self-awareness. Roz is originally viewed as a monster by the animals on the island, but as she helps the various animals in different ways, they slowly change their opinions. There are some moments of humor, like when Roz first meets Pinktail the opossum. There are some incredibly tender moments, like when Roz explains to her adopted goose son what happened to the rest of his family. And throughout it all, there is a sense of wonder and discovery as Roz learns and grows.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Children’s Book Review: Can I Call 9-1-1 NOW? by Theresa Carcioppolo
This is a children’s picture book written by a local ‘to me’ author and 911 Dispatcher. An interview with her will appear tomorrow!
Can I Call 9-1-1 NOW?
Author: Theresa Carcioppolo
Illustrator: Christa Mabrey
Published: April 9, 2022
24 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: May 21, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
Join Turbo the tortoise as he learns when and when NOT to call 911.
Jessica’s Review:
This is an entertaining and enlightening children’s picture book that helps to show young children when and more importantly when to not call 911! It is a short book at just 24 pages that accomplishes what it sets out to do and with the colorful pictures, it will keep young readers attention AND help them to learn some important things too!
Each page has just a couple of sentences to it which is simple enough for the littlest reader to understand. And the pictures go well with those sentences! The pictures are bright and colorful and Carcioppolo has taken her love of reptiles and bring them in as characters in the story.
The book gives great examples of things all young children (and yes adults as well) should know such as their address and their parent(s) phone number. Examples are also given of what is and is not an actual emergency of calling 911. We see Turbo wanting to help others and call 911 when he shouldn’t. We even have one instance where he did call 911 when it wasn’t needed: When there was a cat stuck up in a tree!( And you know this has actually happened!). Of course, we also see Turbo save the day by calling 911 when it actually was needed.
This is a book that all young children should read and learn from. Carcioppolo has done a great job with a short book sharing what small kids and big kids need to know!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK