Sparky the Fire Dog by Don Hoffman is a fun and educational story about a legendary pooch that teaches children about fire safety. In real life, Sparky is the mascot for the National Fire Protection Association. Hoffman released this tale in honor of Sparky's 60th birthday and National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15, 2011).
Told from the point of view of Sparky, this story is engaging all the way through. After Sparky saves a little girl from a house fire, the crew at Fire Station Number 5 makes him an honorary member of their team; he even gets to sit up front in the fire truck with the captain! At night, he dreams of being a super hero, leading a team of Junior Investigators throughout the town teaching fire safety. They warn Mr. Alligator to the dangers of space heaters and Mrs. Flamingo to the hazards of unattended burning candles. They even talk to Mrs. Yak about cooking safety.
In his super hero dream, Sparky addresses most home fire safety situations, offering tips for members of the entire family, even down to creating an emergency evacuation plan. At the end of the story, Sparky wakes to the sound of the fire house alarm ringing, reminding him why he loves his job.
This book is perfect for children up to age eight, although some older ones may learn from the safety tips offered. The friendly, colorful illustrations by Todd Dakins adds a new level of educational fun to this already inspiring story. Although written for Fire Prevention Week, Sparky the Fire Dog is great any time of year. A must-have for every classroom and household, it turns what is a boring subject for some children into informative fun.
- Reading Level: Preschool to second grade
- Hardcover, 32 pages
- ISBN-10: 1936140624
- ISBN-13: 978-1936140626
- Publisher: Imagine, a Charlesbridge Imprint (October 1, 2011)
- Genre: Fiction: Children's Picture Books
- Book Themes: Personal Safety, Firefighting and Prevention
Author's Note: Check out my blog, Reading with My Eyes Shut, for a one-on-one interview with children's author Don Hoffman.
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