Fire Drill
Simple rhyming text paired with colorful, upbeat art offer children an accessible overview of general fire-drill rules. In a busy classroom, students read and play, but then a fire alarm rings, and the rhythmic lines give instructions: “Out the door. Down the stairs. Stay in line. Stay in pairs.” After their teacher's OK, the kids return inside for stickers and hugs. The story's realistic elements include the children's diverse responses to the noise—hands over ears; running to the teacher—and their excitement to be outside, although they are reminded, “Stop right there. Find your place. Do not climb. Do not chase.” All concludes with, “That was fun. What a thrill! Fire drill!” Appealing, cheerful illustrations in elemental shapes and colors and vibrant patterns portray the multicultural group and familiar school settings. Although some may object to the view of fire drills as a fun activity, the book does provide a general introduction for adults to help kids understand the importance of the exercise. Preschool-Grade 2. --Shelle Rosenfeld