Fire-Engine Lil

by Janet McLean, Andrew McLean (Illustrator)

Lil, an old pumper, is often left behind in the station house while the newer firetrucks answer the alarms, but one day, when they are out, she gets a chance to prove she is still useful

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Janet McLean is a kindergarten teacher and children's author. She grew up in Essendon, around Melbourne, Australia.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire-Engine Lil is getting a little older and she is sad that she's not called out as often as she used to be to fight fires, for that is her purpose.

And then she gets the call...

Lil to the rescue.

Satisfying.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea that this was an Australian book. Never heard of it. But I'm saddened that it's disappearing from our libraries because it covers bush fires in a gentle for children to begin to understand. Bush fires aren't just for country kids, they happen on the edge of and even in our metropolitan cities, so having an awareness of them is very important. Might petition my local library to get it back in again ....

[Paul Allis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When our first child was just over 1 year old it was very difficult getting him to go to bed. I went to the library thinking that reading a story might help to settle him in the evening, and this is the first one I read to him. He lay in bed staring at the pictures while I read, and when I'd finished he looked at me with what appeared to be amazement. "Again? more?" he asked. I read the story 5 more times. The following evening when I said it was time for bed and that we could read Fire Engine Lil again he ran to his bed in excitement.

Over the next 15 years I read stories to him and then his younger brother almost every night. It was probably the highlight of my life, reading to them and discovering or re-discovering stories I loved with them.

Maybe I'd be telling this story about a different book if I'd chosen another, but I still have to give Lil 5 stars.

[Kristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watched a reading on YouTube.

A story about an older fire engine that is aging, but can still help out.

[Cataluna6 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another off the 1001 list! A sweet book about Lil, who is an old fire engine that doesn't get to go out much anymore. The newer engines get to go out first. But when the bush fires come and she is the only one left she has to go out... "I'm a pumper, I was built to fight fires."

Lovely colour pencil illustrations, it's a pity that it hasn't been republished in recent years. As with many of the older books on the list, I was luck enough to find it at another library.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful.