Gr 1-4-In this stirring historical story, a heroic and determined horse refuses to be put out to pasture after his firefighting days come to an end. Magnus, a mighty gray stallion, and his companions have been trained to pull the heavy steam pumper to fires. One day, the captain returns to the station with a motorized fire engine, and Magnus is put in a nearby field. At the sound of the alarm, he is over the fence and following the truck down the street. The captain considers him a dangerous nuisance until the new engine breaks down and Magnus has the chance to fight one more blaze. Afterward, a retired fireman takes the hero to his farm where he becomes a beloved companion to the man's grandchildren. Impressive oil paintings in vibrant colors capture the drama of firefighting in the 1800s. The horses, particularly Magnus, are striking, especially in their resemblance to the powerful war horses of Renaissance art. Tension is etched on the faces of the men as they hasten to a burning building, but there are also moments of empathy between them and the animals. The exciting spreads will pull readers into the action. This is a fine tribute to the four-legged "smoke eaters" that bravely served their communities.-Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Shrugging off attempts to replace him with a motorized truck, an old fire horse breaks through fences whenever he hears the bell, and not only beats the newfangled engine to fires repeatedly, to the annoyance of the Captain, but comes through in the clutch when the machine breaks down. Armstrong tells this dramatic historical tale in suitably rousing fashion-"He followed the smell of smoke, galloping down Long Alley and over another two fences, his mane and tail flaring out behind him like flames. . . . " Smith uses WPA mural-style figures and colors to illustrate it, placing burly firefighters around a monumentally muscled grey, all in heroic poses and viewed from low angles for a larger-than-life look. Even glimpsed in final, well-earned retirement far from the city, where the only flames come from autumn bonfires, Magnus cuts an awesome figure. Children, horse lovers or no, will long remember him. (afterword) (Picture book. 7-9)

In the early 1900s the horse-drawn pumpers of America's fire departments were replaced by "newfangled contraptions,” motorized fire engines. Majestic and expectant, but newly retired, Magnus the fire horse watches his captain and firemen respond to the next bell in the new vehicle. Magnus responds also--over the fence and to the scene! Like John Henry, Magnus does not retire to old Captain Francher's farm without an impressive display of fortitude. Jim Jenner brings the distinctive voice of a seasoned storyteller. It’s just right for evoking that period in America when the fire horse was an esteemed community member. A.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine