Perfect for fans of firefighters and fire trucks, this energetic rhyming picture book shows how a fire chief and her crew keep their community safe.
. . . lights begin flashing, and—CLANG!—the bells blast. They leap into action— they need to move FAST!
If a puppy is in danger or a café is on fire, Fire Chief Fran is ready to help! Featuring a strong female role model, a huge fire truck, and an action-packed story, this read-aloud is a dynamic introduction to a day in the life of a firefighter. Follow along as Fire Chief Fran and her team respond not only to fires, but also to injuries, blocked roads, and more. With an irresistible rhyming text, acclaimed author Linda Ashman celebrates the many ways that firefighters help their communities. The book concludes with an author’s note that is packed with further fascinating information about firefighters, their equipment, their fire trucks, their training, and more.---from the publisher
32 pages 978-1635924268 Ages 4-8
Keywords: firefighter, girls and women, gender roles, rhyme, community helpers, fire truck, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, jobs and careers, Social Studies Curriculum
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"No, you only need to learn to be a lady
The duty isn't yours for to try and run the world
An engineer could never have a baby
Remember, dear, that you're a girl"
– Peggy Seeger, “Gonna Be an Engineer” (1972)
"Female admissions to colleges and graduate programs picked up speed, driven by female ambition, the law, and a growing acceptance that it was simply wrong to reject someone just for being a girl. Between 1971 and 1976 the number of women attending college jumped 40 percent. By the fall of 1976 one in every four law students was a woman, up from fewer than one in ten in 1971; likewise, a quarter of first-year medical students were female, up from about one in seven just five years before."
–from LET ME PLAY: THE STORY OF TITLE IX, THE LAW THAT CHANGED THE FUTURE OF GIRLS IN AMERICA by Karen Blumenthal (2005)
“Back at the station…it’s time for a tour.
Mr. Lee’s class pours through the door.
They check out the pumpers, the nozzles, and tools,
while Fire Chief Fran shares safety rules:
‘Don’t play with matches. Or lighters. Or gas.
And don’t start a fire near dry leaves and grass!’”
Overflowing with firetrucks and other fire fighting equipment, high action spreads, and precarious situations requiring the skills and strength that firefighters must possess, FIRE CHIEF FRAN is a picture book that will captivate darn near every little kid out there.
Us oldsters will also love the depiction of the new world brought about by Title IX. Fire Chief Fran is a buff Black woman who, in addition to being in charge, matches the male firefighters’ skills and endurance as they fight fires, respond to accidents, maintain equipment, and rescue the little doggie with its head stuck in the fence.
Nancy Carpenter has been illustrating picture books for decades. Her work has included whimsical visual portraits of historical figures such as Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Mother Jones. Here she does a notable job of portraying both the characters–firefighters, children, victims, and critters–and the constant action.
The story depicts firehouse routines, showing readers what keeps the chief and crew busy between calls. These are interspersed with the chorus of:
“Then…
lights begin flashing,
and–CLANG!--the bells blast.
They leap into action–
they need to move FAST!”
The firefighters drop whatever they’re doing and are off to the next call!
FIRE CHIEF FRAN is a four-alarm must-have.
Recommended by: Richie Partington, MLIS, California USA
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