RHINOS WHO RESCUE

The rhinos are back! This time they move away from sports and explore the firefighting profession. Mammano’s hook throughout the rhino series is the vocabulary she introduces to young children. “In full turnouts the rhinos get to work. They are pumped! They make the hydrant and pay out the hoses.” To first-timers, it will seem like a foreign language. To those familiar with the series, a flip to the “Rescue Rap” glossary will help readers understand the bolded terms. The text follows the rhinos as they do the many different jobs of a firefighter, including smoke-jumping a wildfire, responding to vehicular accidents and doing chores around the firehouse. Visually pleasing batik-like geometric patterns fill the watercolor backgrounds, while curving text emphasizes the action. The rhinos, though, have only a few facial expressions. Nonetheless, this may be a hit with children acquainted with firefighters, or with those who love anything having to do with them. (Picture book. 3-7)