Hotshots! - Hardcover

Chris L. Demarest is a fine artist and volunteer firefighter. He has a young son and lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

K-Gr. 2. Similar in subject and format to Demarest's Firefighters A to Z (2000) and Smoke Jumpers One to Ten (2002), this large-format book features hotshots, "the elite ground fire-fighting corps with permanent stations dotted throughout the western United States." Sparks from a passing train ignite a fire that rages out of control, burning homes as well as brush-covered countryside. The hotshots respond quickly, racing up a mountain, setting a "backburn," and protecting themselves with heat-resistant coverings when the blaze overtakes them. After their backburn stops the fire, they reload their tools on the truck, ready for the next call. The rhythm of the short, rhyming text sounds a bit clunky, and some terminology may confuse the uninitiated. But the story builds to a terrific climax, and the dramatic, intensely colored pastel illustrations are riveting. In the appended note, Demarest describes the process of battling wildfires, explains the fire-fighting terms used in the book, and lists books, videos, and Web sites for further information. Sure to enthrall children with an interest in fire fighting. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved