HUGO THE FLYING FIREFIGHTER

A pint-sized elephant named Hugo sets off on a pleasant ride in his smiling airplane, Wilco. They sail through the air peering happily down on bucolic Hometown as his neighbors go about their business. Mr. Higginbottom, the hippopotamus, is hanging the wash. Toby Turner, the turtle, is bathing his dog. The Pidgons, it seems, are not at home. “But wait! Was that smoke? Yes, smoke! The Pigdons’ house was on fire!” Racing back through town, Hugo tries desperately to get the attention of his friends, but each is too occupied to hear his shouts. This seems a little odd, but it gives Hugo an opportunity to come up with an excellent plan. He uses the plane’s contrail to write “Fire” in the sky and saves the day. The endpapers add to the adventure by mapping out the little town and then showing the path Hugo and the firemen take to the burning house. The characters are drawn as cute, pudgy creatures with boldly outlined pastels. Combining fun and a speck of danger, this tale has the makings of a real child-pleaser. (Picture book. 3-5)