This is Daniel Cook at the Fire Station. Yvette Ghione. Illustrated by Céleste Gagnon. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2006. 24 pp., pbk. & cl., $5.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.). ISBN 1-55337-076-8 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55453-075-X (cl.). Subject Headings: Fire stations-Juvenile literature. Fire fighters-Juvenile literature. Fire prevention-Juvenile literature. Kindergarten-grade 2 / Ages 5-7. Review by Lisa O'Hara. **** /4

Based on the popular Canadian children's television series, This is Daniel Cook at the Fire Station describes Daniel's visit to a fire station and what he sees there. He meets a firefighter named Sean who shows him the firefighter's clothing and the firetrucks, including the horns, switches, lights and sirens. They talk about how horses used to pull fire trucks and how Dalmatians guided the horses through the city streets and how some fire stations still have Dalmatians as pets. A very informative book, it would be a good substitute for a real visit to a fire station if one isn't possible.

     Each page contains photographs of the equipment that is being described in the text. Many of the pages also contain photographs of Daniel, often with a crayon-drawn red arrow to text in a different font giving his comments on what is being described:

The masks keep them [firefighters] from breathing in smoke in a fire.

They might look scary, but if you see firefighters wearing masks, try not to be afraid - they're there to help you.

[picture of Daniel in a mask & red arrow to text] Don't be sacred. It's me - really!

     Daniel Cook will be familiar to parents and children who have seen the television series and so will know what to expect from this book. The addition of Daniel's comments makes the story more fun for children, allowing them to be entertained as well an informed. The format of this book has been adapted very well from the series.

Highly Recommended.

Lisa O'Hara is a mother of three and librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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