Fire Truck vs. Dragon

by Chris Barton (Author) Shanda McCloskey (Illustrator)

Fire Truck vs. Dragon
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

Can a Fire Truck and a Dragon be friends? Find out in this new companion to the household favorite Shark vs. Train!

It's the wackiest rivalry ever, when the fire-breathing ruler of the skies and the fearless fire truck go head to head in an epic battle of fire vs water! Who will win? But wait, is it actually a competition? Their rivalry takes unexpected turns as these two unlikely friends face off at a campfire, a birthday party, and more with unexpected results. Who will you root for? With playful illustrations and charming text, Fire Truck vs. Dragon gives readers an unexpected twist on a would-be rivalry, turned friendship.

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Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus

A friendship story for the young and vicious.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

This time, the joke is on readers: unlike the rivals in Shark vs. Train, Fire Truck and Dragon are besties ("We get along great!" says Fire Truck. "Why wouldn't we?"). Each time there's a possible confrontation involving Dragon's incendiary talents and Fire Truck's capacity to extinguish them, the result is comically companionable. Looking forward to what will happen when the two show up at the same cookout or barbecue? Dragon proudly brings homemade free-range potato salad, and a beaming Fire Truck provides "my famous firehouse beans." "Is there something more they want to see from us? Something in particular?" Dragon innocently asks after yet another potential showdown ends on a benevolent note. They finally agree to "Facing off!!" ("Who will win?" says Dragon tantalizingly), which results in a staring contest. "I thought that... would be a crowd-pleaser," says Dragon, puzzled. Frustrated expectations have seldom been so funny; Barton's misdirections are beautifully timed, and McCloskey's digitally enhanced pencil-and-watercolor drawings are bright and exuberant. And yes, fire is finally breathed and water is spurted: that's how these two multifaceted pals say goodbye. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--Despite the two titular characters going head-to-head as depicted on the cover, the fire truck and the dragon are actually good friends. The title page spread reveals that the main characters are having a good laugh at the expense of a family of onlookers who have preconceived notions about what fire trucks and dragons are capable of doing. They are a winning team at campfires; with the help of his headlights and a flashlight, dragon creates a super shadow bunny on the tent wall at night. Meanwhile, both parents and baby appear baffled and disappointed that their marshmallows remain untoasted. On a hot summer day, Fire Truck provides snow cones, and on a cold, wintry night Dragon is right there with blankets. Registering the family's mounting frustration, the friends decide to give the people what they want: "Fire Truck vs. Dragon!!!" Anticipatory smiles quickly vanish as the friends face off...in a staring contest. Still, there is some redemption in the end though much is left to the imagination. The vibrant pencil-and-watercolor cartoon illustrations were edited in Photoshop and feature the radiant red truck and his bright blue friend in a variety of surprising activities; the little family's responses to them are hilarious and mirror the readers' sentiments. VERDICT This companion to Barton's Shark vs. Train is not only good fun, but also shows children that people with differences can still be friends.--Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Chris Barton
Chris Barton is the author of many picture books including the award-winning What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, New York Times bestseller Shark vs. Train, Sibert Honor-winning The Day-Glo Brothers, and Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List books The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch and Whoosh!. He visits schools by the score and also loves speaking to professional gatherings of librarians, educators, and his fellow writers. Chris and his wife, novelist Jennifer Ziegler, live in Austin, Texas, with their family. For more information about Chris, please visit ChrisBarton.info.

Steffi Walthall is an illustrator and character designer born and raised in Virginia. She received her BFA in Game Development from the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). Steffi focuses on crafting a diverse range of characters and unique stories, and recently illustrated J.E. Bright's Wonder Woman: The Way of the Amazons. For more information about Steffi, please visit SteffiWalthallArt.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316522137
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
March 10, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV041030 - Juvenile Fiction | Transportation | Cars & Trucks
JUV002270 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Friendship
Dragons
Humorous fiction
Fire engines

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