The Fire Station

Joan Weller is Head Librarian at the West Branch of the Ottawa Public
Library.

Originally appearing in the miniature Annikin format (1983), Robert
Munsch’s The Fire Station has now happily grown into his stories’
familiar square picture-book format. This larger presentation lends
itself well to Martchenko’s action-packed illustrations, including the
appealing red cover, which shows the book’s heroine at the wheel of a
fiery red truck. Munsch’s story line is slightly weaker than some of
his more recent titles, but many of his trademarks are here.
Adventuresome young Sheila leads a more timid younger Michael into a
local fire station, up into a truck, and unwittingly off in the back
seat to answer the CLANG-CLANG-CLANG of the fire alarm. The book’s
dénouement, reminiscent of a Harry the Dirty Dog reconciliation with
parents, is captured perfectly in the artist’s pictures of the duo
covered in “yucky coloured smoke” and in overflowing bubble baths.
The book’s hasty ending projects the trespassing twosome into what can
only lead to more trouble—a police station. Munsch fans will not be
disappointed with yet another story in a new dress from this popular
storyteller and his familiar artist.