Kai is a small green-and-white pumper truck who moves into Firehouse #10. Firehouse #10 has some of the biggest, reddest fire trucks around. So how can Kai fit in with the other fire trucks? When a big fire breaks out, it's Kai who saves the day! From the New York Times bestselling author of The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn, Kai to the Rescue! is a delightful story that celebrates the differences that make every one of us special. The trucks come to life with the exciting, kid-friendly art of up-and-coming animator and illustrator Mike Yamada! Kai to the Rescue! is perfect for National Fire Prevention Month (October) and Fire Prevention Week (the second week of October). Confidence comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes!
Publishers Weekly
05/23/2016
As Kermit the Frog once noted, it’s not easy being green. For Kai, the new green pumper truck at the fire station, his diminutive size makes life even more complicated. “Good gracious, Kai! You’re so young and small!/ I really don’t think you can help us at all,” says Chuck, the hook and ladder truck. To his credit, Kai never stops believing in himself, and he gets a little support from the other two trucks on the team. He tries to fit in by coloring himself red with crayons, which gains him some approbation from the big trucks (“Very stylish!” says Rudy, the big pumper) but does nothing to overcome Chuck’s misgivings about his size—until suddenly, in the midst of a forest fire, being small becomes a big asset. Penn’s (the Kissing Hand series) earnest text, with its intermittent rhyming (for some reason only Chuck speaks in meter), isn’t exactly delicate in its messaging, but Yamada’s (Bedtime Blastoff!) digital illustrations bring plenty of wide-eyed energy and determination to this workplace drama. Ages 3–5. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Praise for The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Ruth E. Harper:
A #1 New York Times bestseller
A 2007 NEA Survey Educators' Top 100 Children's BookPraise for A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Barbara Leonard Gibson
"Penn understands the powerful pull of old-fashioned sentiment." -- Publishers Weekly
Praise for Bedtime Blastoff! by Luke Reynolds and illustrated by Mike Yamada:
"Yamada's digital illustrations amplify the creativity of this duo, offering detailed images of the child's bedroom as it becomes a sort of infinite and diverse playground. ... With its simple, declarative text and lively illustrations, this is an ideal story for transportation-themed storytimes or for launching kids to bedtime." -- Kirkus Reviews
Children's Literature - Vicki Foote
Kai is a small, green-and-white pumper truck that has trouble fitting in with the big red fire trucks. The big trucks are stationed at Firehouse #10. There is Chuck, a large hook and ladder truck who serves as the captain; Emily, an equipment truck; and Rudy, a chemical pumper. These three have successfully worked together and are not happy when they find out that another truck is joining their crew. When they see that Kai is young and small and even green instead of red, the captain thinks that Kai will not be able to help them at all. So during the night, Kai finds some red crayons and colors himself red. The two fire trucks like his new color, but the captain still does not think Kai is right for their team. When they go to a big forest fire, Kai is only able to watch as the others put out the fire. But wait! There is still a small fire burning in the underbrush, and Kai is the only truck small enough to put it out! Captain Chuck congratulates Kai and tells him that he was wrong for thinking that Kai would not be a good firefighter because of his small size and color. On the way back to the firehouse, he sings a song about Kai and how lucky they are to have him on their team. The cute illustrations are large and colorful. With its upbeat message and bit of excitement, this is an excellent book to read aloud to young children. Reviewer: Vicki Foote; Ages 3 to 6.
School Library Journal
09/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Three red fire trucks live at Firehouse #10, "side by side, clean and polished, ready for the next day's action." Enter a tiny green and white pumper truck. Small and shy, Kai finds crayons to color himself red in an attempt to fit in. Despite his best efforts, he is ignored, teased, and pushed aside while others take the lead. When an underbrush fire presents a challenge, only a tiny pumper truck can handle it. Now Firehouse #10 is a team of four—a team known for its collaboration, individual talents, skills, and confidence. Praise comes from the previously skeptical Captain, who now voices his belief that size and color don't matter: "When the fire is out, we all look the same: the color of dirt, ash, and grime." Light washes over digital cartoon images, revealing expressive faces in windshields and truck hoods while featuring details of the action and darkened areas of the station. Although the text is limited mostly to multiple lines in a single area of each page, alternating full-page and spotlight illustrations accentuate the vibrantly painted details and keep pages turning with a winning hero and a message of inclusiveness. VERDICT A recommended general purchase for all libraries, perfect for vehicle-themed programs.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX
Kirkus Reviews
2016-05-04
When a tiny green-and-white pumper joins the fire crew, the captain truck doubts his abilities.Firehouse No. 10 seems as though it has all the fire trucks it needs. Capt. Chuck is a large hook and ladder, Emily (stereotypically depicted as the sole truck with eyelashes) is the equipment truck, and Rudy carries the chemical foam. But there is word that a new truck is coming. "Oh, no, no, no!" moans Capt. Chuck. "This will not do! I'm very happy with my crew, crew, crew!" Poor little Kai, a tiny pumper, is doomed before he starts. Plus, the others are a gleaming red, and he is green and white. How will he ever fit in? On his first night in the station, he grabs some red crayons and scribbles himself a new coat. The two other trucks admire his ingenuity, but the captain shouts, "underneath that crayon you're still white and green. I don't think you're right for our team, team, team." Despite the harsh words, Kai perseveres and proves his worth when, during a fire, he fits into a tight spot that none of the other trucks can reach. Yamada's animation background shines through in the cartoon trucks reminiscent of Disney's Cars. Capt. Chuck's rhymed, thrice-repeated words continue (bafflingly, he's the only one who speaks this way), but the rhythm becomes increasingly jarring as he gets nicer (perhaps compliments are difficult).An oft-told tale in fire-truck form. It's earnest, but it fizzles. (Picture book. 3-6)
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