cover image THE FIREFIGHTERS' THANKSGIVING

THE FIREFIGHTERS' THANKSGIVING

Maribeth Boelts, Meribeth Boelts, , illus. by Terry Widener. . Putnam, $15.99 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-399-23600-6

Widener's (America's Champion Swimmer ) artwork goes a long way to fill in the gaps in Boelts's (When It's the Last Day of School ) skimpy rhyming text. In the busy firehouse, some men make beds while others shoot baskets. Fireman Lou volunteers, "I can cook today." Youngsters will enjoy the many interruptions in Lou's preparations of the holiday meal by fire alarms timed to complete the rhymes (e.g., "The cart is full, the shopping's through/ A call comes in—it's 9:02"). Lou gets injured on one such mission, but grateful community members bring a home-cooked meal to the station. Readers will revel in Widener's action-packed spreads of the heroes at work. Ages 4-up. (Aug.)