What Should I Do? If There Is a Fire

November 1, 2011

K-Gr 2-These books are well intentioned, but the language and information are not entirely appropriate for the audience and their messages are often negative and frightening. Some titles mention death in a blunt manner, and there are scary images, such as a smashed car and a cowering child. Each volume focuses on the danger associated with the featured situation, but the eventual safety tips are useful. The advice places a lot of pressure on children, such as checking the safety of car seats and playgrounds, which is probably intended to empower readers but instead comes off as burdensome. Stranger and Fire are the strongest in the series, with the best practical tips and guidelines. The final page in each book usually has a more calming message, such as in Playground, where readers are reminded that "Bumps and scratches are a normal part of being a kid!" It's unfortunate that these messages weren't at the beginning of the books.

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Preschool-G These new books in the Community Connections: What Should I Do? series focus on safety in a variety of everyday and extraordinary situations. The large text, clean layout, and action-oriented photos, most of which feature relatable children, make the books engaging and inviting for younger kids and beginning readers. Just be advised that certain second-person scenarios (warning that the reader could get hurt, suffocated, or drowned) may be frightening to some readers. If There Is a Fire presents well-known, simple fire safety suggestions but also presents the potentially scary situation of being trapped inside a burning house. The books' back matter includes a one-page glossary, which defines boldface words in the text; one page of selected books and websites to Find Out More; and a one-page index.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)