Little Smokey

by Robert Neubecker

Overview

For a brave firefighting airplane, the sky's the limit! This timeless story of teamwork and determination is perfect for kids who loved The Little Engine That Could and shows how even unlikely heroes can help their community in times of need.

When forest fires blaze, the airplanes at Nif-C spring into action! Some swoop low to spray water on the flames. Others drop bright red fire retardant. Little Smokey hasn't quite figured out her job yet, but she wants to help. . . . And when a fire like no other flares up--a fire that none of the other planes can control--it's Smokey's turn to show what she's made of.

Featuring useful information about wildfires and fire prevention in the back of the book, Little Smokey is a must-have for children growing up in a world where climate change makes natural disasters a common occurrence. Parents looking to teach their kids about how fires spread and what they can do about it will surely want to take flight with Little Smokey.

"Positively cinematic. . . . this book may look like a classic, but with forest fires ever more frequent and intense, it's truly timely." --Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984851062
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	08/06/2019
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	430L (what's this?)
File size:	29 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

ROBERT NEUBECKER draws for Slate.com, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. He is the award-winning author-illustrator of Wow! City!, Wow! Ocean!, and Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing. Robert lives in Park City, Utah, with his family, dogs, cats, and lizards. Visit him at RobertNeubecker.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Positively cinematic. . . .  this book may look like a classic, but with forest fires ever more frequent and intense, it's truly timely." -Kirkus

"An excellent story about bravery, patience, determination, and teamwork. . . . This book will become a favorite for those who enjoy planes, firefighters, and more." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

09/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—When a forest fire strikes, it's comforting to know there's a great team of brave planes at the Nif-C (National Interagency Fire Center) to put it out. Each plane has an important job and has earned a specific name. Bruno, the water scooper, dives down and scoops up water to pour on the flames. The Air Tanker is Buster; he flies fast and sprays water to douse the fire. Bertha, the biggest plane, is a V.L.A.T. (Very Large Air Tanker). She carries tons of red fire retardant to fight the big fires. There's one plane that wants to help the others but she's just too small. She practices and practices but the people in the tower still dismiss her. The little plane knows she can help the others so she waits for the perfect chance to show what she can do. This is an excellent story about bravery, patience, determination, and teamwork. The illustrations are beautifully drawn with bold colors and interesting perspectives. The planes have great facial expressions that make them come alive, while conveying information about how the planes are used to help put out the fires. Back matter provides more detail for children who want to know about wildfires and the crews who do so much to help. VERDICT This book will become a favorite for those who enjoy planes, firefighters, and more.—Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

School Library Journal

2019-05-26
The little spotter plane that could.

Channeling old Disney shorts, Neubecker sets his tale among the aerial firefighters of the National Interagency Fire Center. When it comes to forest fires, the water-scooper and air-tanker planes have clearly defined jobs to do. One little plane, who hasn't even "earned her name" yet, yearns to help her companions, but her every attempt is denied. Then one day, a fire starts that can only be reached by someone small, fast, and brave, and the rest is history. The story of a little vehicle that could has been done before, but this book stands apart. Fully half the emergency planes featured are identified as female (including the biggest tanker and the titular heroine). Meanwhile, watercolor, pencil, and computer illustrations create thick evergreens engulfed in swirls of orange and red flames as white and gray smoke permeates the space that is left. So enthralling are these landscape scenes that they feel positively cinematic. Angled views often present the planes with just one eyeball instead of the two that are clearly present when seen face on, but this inconsistency is only mildly unnerving. Copious backmatter discusses how wildfires start, who fights them, who the crews are, what aerial firefighting is, what readers can do, and where readers can go for more wildfire information.

This book may look like a classic, but with forest fires ever more frequent and intense, it's truly timely. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews