FIRE ENGINE TO THE RESCUE

This pop-up book on how a fire engine works is soundly conceived, although it may become a “pop-apart” book with heavy use. Augarde’s illustrations are emergency-bright and dramatic; it’s great fun to unreel hoses, pull the lever to make the firefighter slide down the pole, and hoist up the truck’s ladder to rescue a trapped kitty. Small unattached pieces—radio, ladder, kitten—may become lost, and it’s easy to envision children wearing out the cherry-picker as part of the kitten rescue, so buy a couple of copies to make sure this engine makes it to the fire with all its parts intact. (Pop-up. 3-6)