Book Review: Firefighter Ted
The Horn Book Magazine
Sep 01, 2009
Firefighter Ted; Andrea Beaty Firefighter Ted; illus. by Pascal Lemaitre 32 pp. McElderry 9/09 ISBN 978-1-4169-2821-8 $15.99 (Preschool, Primary)
It's career-shift time for the civic-minded bear cub from Beaty and Lemaitre's Doctor Ted (rev. 5/08). The former pretend physician awakens to the smell of smoke and, since he can't find a real firefighter anywhere in his bedroom, decides to don the red uniform and tackle the job himself. As in the first book, the comedy stems from Ted's obliviousness while performing his self-appointed tasks. He isn't fazed by Mom's annoyance after he sprays his burnt toast with a fire extinguisher/ whipped cream canister - "now it's nutritious and safe," Ted explains and takes bystanders' confused silence for admiration when he "rescues" a kitten (and two puppies and three tricycles) by putting them up a tree. Lemaitre's heavily outlined cartoons, rendered in day-glo colors, embrace the story's manic silliness, especially once Ted reaches school and continues in firefighter mode. He appears to be driving his principal toward early retirement, but along the way he saves the school science fair - or at least the principal's pants - from going up in flames. Well done, Ted. What will you become next? (The last page provides a clue . . . ) C.M.H.
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