Could a fire truck and a dragon be friends? What WOULD they do if they WERE friends?
These questions -- and more -- are explored delightfully in fellow Texan Chris Barton's latest picture book FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON (Little Brown, 2019) celebrating its book birthday today!
Illustrated by Shanda McCloskey (Doll-E 1.0 and T-Bone the Drone), this picture book follows the pair of friends as they entertain an audience of kids -- all of whom, of course, expect --what else-- fire and water!
But as the story proceeds, Fire Truck and Dragon do everything BUT ensue in the most epic of anticipated matchups. Instead of lighting up the campfire, the pair tell stories. Instead of grilling burgers at a cookout, they bring "free-range" potato salad and "firehouse" beans -- witty details from a very clever author. I won't give anymore away-- I want readers to come upon this cleverness themselves!
With each page, the kids remain hopeful that they'll witness what they came to see, but every "disappointment" is really a treat for the kids: a birthday cake, snow cones, hot chocolate and more.
Do the fire truck and dragon ever go toe-to-toe? Do they give the kids what they expect? Read the book to find out.
I would also like to add that I especially appreciated the illustrations -- with my favorite detail being the lettering perfectly suited to each character: FIRE TRUCK is spelled in rivet/nail letters while DRAGON is spelled with almost-real blue scales. McCloskey's work makes readers feel as if the two could be opponents, yet in a friendly way! I also noted wonderful use of speech bubbles, full page spreads, and eyebrows that speak volumes.
I was thinking about this book more today, and I see that's not just about unlikely friendships.
It's also about expectations. Kids deal with disappointments and "unexpectedness" every day. They know all about this. Maybe --in those times we get the unexpected-- maybe something fun can still be had- something that will make us smile -- even if it's not what we were hoping for.
FIRE TRUCK VS. DRAGON also illustrates that there is more to people than what they might best be known for. We all have hidden talents. We all can do more than others think. It's okay to surprise the world every now and then with something fun and lovely!
I can't wait to share this book with the readers in my library once I buy my final copy.
Many thanks to Little Brown for the advance copy.
Read more about the book here.
I cannot wait to read this book to classes in my library!
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