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A Fire Engine for Ruthie
Ruthie loves to visit Nana, but they don’t always like to play with the same things. Ruthie loves fire engines and motorcycles, while Nana loves dolls and dress-up clothes. Nana’s neighbor, Brian, gets to play with fire engines and motorcycles. So why doesn’t Ruthie? Energetic illustrations capture the loving relationship between Ruthie and Nana in this insightful and sensitive story.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 23, 2004
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Lesléa Newman
107 books250 followersLesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 31, 2009
I like the idea behind this story about a little girl who goes to her grandmother's house--and her grandmother loves tea parties and dress-up and playing with dolls, but Ruthie wants to play with trains and fire engines and motorcycles. Ruthie is a bit insensitive about her grandmother, though, when she elects to go play with the little boy who has all the toys SHE likes rather than staying to visit with her grandmother. But the grandmother also comes to realize that perhaps she and Ruthie might have more fun if she tries to take an interest in what Ruthie wants to play.
The illustrations are adorable and remind me a bit of Robin Preiss Glasser's work. I felt that the story itself is too long and detailed for the intended audience, but it could still be the perfect book for those who are feeling their interests are a bit mismatched with others!
The illustrations are adorable and remind me a bit of Robin Preiss Glasser's work. I felt that the story itself is too long and detailed for the intended audience, but it could still be the perfect book for those who are feeling their interests are a bit mismatched with others!
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September 13, 2011This book introduces you to little martyr Ruthie, who is a typically self-absorbed, ungrateful child.
The first few pages are about how the neighbor boy has toys that she wants, but she doesn't actually SAY anything to anyone about what she wants and instead begrudgingly plays with what she has, meanwhile trying to drop hints to her grandmother about what she really wants.
She finally asks to play with the boy and at the end her grandma buys her some of the toys she wanted; because material possessions are the only thing that can make us happy, not just appreciating what we have.
I expect there's a book in the adult section about grown-up Ruthie, manipulating people and throwing temper tantrums because people aren't doing what she wants even though she's made it quite obvious but hasn't actually told anyone.
The first few pages are about how the neighbor boy has toys that she wants, but she doesn't actually SAY anything to anyone about what she wants and instead begrudgingly plays with what she has, meanwhile trying to drop hints to her grandmother about what she really wants.
She finally asks to play with the boy and at the end her grandma buys her some of the toys she wanted; because material possessions are the only thing that can make us happy, not just appreciating what we have.
I expect there's a book in the adult section about grown-up Ruthie, manipulating people and throwing temper tantrums because people aren't doing what she wants even though she's made it quite obvious but hasn't actually told anyone.
November 10, 2015
A Fire Engine for Ruthie (2004) is about Ruthie, a girl who is spending time at her grandma’s house. She and her grandma constantly pass by a neighbor boy, Brian, who is always seen playing with these masculine toys. Ruthie expresses her want to play the boys’ toys, but is met with objection by her traditionally feminine grandma. After a visit to Brian’s house, Grandma picks up the enjoyment of playing with boys’ toys and buys Ruthie a fire truck at the end of her stay.
Ruthie is not depicted with decidedly boyish costumes or attitudes, but she expresses the curiosity and enjoyment of playing with boys’ toys and doing boys’ activities. The soft colors give the possibility that the book is meant to be read by girls, especially ones who actively engage in doing feminine things and shy away from boyish activities. Everyone is thin and idealized, further inviting the girl audience to read the book.
In the extremely polarized gender culture of America, I think it is easy to trap people in boxes: if one identifies as female then one should be effeminate, and if not, then one has to act masculine entirely. The categorization of activities as masculine-feminine keeps male power in check and stops girls from doing things that they want to do. Ruthie gives her girl readers a good example that she can play with boys’ toys while remaining feminine.
Ruthie is not depicted with decidedly boyish costumes or attitudes, but she expresses the curiosity and enjoyment of playing with boys’ toys and doing boys’ activities. The soft colors give the possibility that the book is meant to be read by girls, especially ones who actively engage in doing feminine things and shy away from boyish activities. Everyone is thin and idealized, further inviting the girl audience to read the book.
In the extremely polarized gender culture of America, I think it is easy to trap people in boxes: if one identifies as female then one should be effeminate, and if not, then one has to act masculine entirely. The categorization of activities as masculine-feminine keeps male power in check and stops girls from doing things that they want to do. Ruthie gives her girl readers a good example that she can play with boys’ toys while remaining feminine.
January 29, 2008
GREAT read for a girl who feels different because she wants to play with so-called "boys' toys". Cute read for everyone else. Ruthie goes to stay with her grandmother and they play lots of girl-y games, which Ruthie thinks is OK, but she'd rather play with toy fire trucks, trains and motorcycles. It's gentle and not harsh on the grandmother, who eventually plays with and likes the fire truck games.
July 14, 2015
Great depiction of a girl who is not interested in what is stereotypically "girly". I really would have loved this as a kid, because this was me as a kid! I love that she is polite enough to show interest and go along with her grandma, but she really wishes to play with her (boy) friend's toys. She wants trains/motorcycles/fire trucks. Cute story!
August 9, 2018
Ruthie would rather play with trucks and trains and motorcycles. Finally, her grandmother hears her, even joins her.
August 1, 2025
A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman is a thoughtful story about a little girl named Ruthie as she visits her Nana. Her grandmother has planned fun things for the two of them to do: a tea party with Nana’s dolls, dress up, and painting. But what Ruthie really wants to do is play with the neighbor boy, Brian. Brian has a fire engine with a black and white dog sitting up front, a silver ladder that slides up and down and a yellow hose to unwind. It also has a siren that goes Whee-ooh! Whee-ooh! Whee-ooh! Brian also has a train, a motorcycle, trucks, buses, and kinds of vehicles.
After Ruthie did all the things that Nana planned, she got her play day with Brian and Nana joined in too. The next day, they even went to the toy store and bought Ruthie her own fire engine.
This story is sweet and encouraging. It shows how good communication can work and play time isn’t about gender. The illustrations by Cyd Moore are adorable. I really enjoyed this book.
After Ruthie did all the things that Nana planned, she got her play day with Brian and Nana joined in too. The next day, they even went to the toy store and bought Ruthie her own fire engine.
This story is sweet and encouraging. It shows how good communication can work and play time isn’t about gender. The illustrations by Cyd Moore are adorable. I really enjoyed this book.
March 22, 2018
This is a beautiful books that is easy for children to relate to. It could also give children different perspectives about what they and their friends play with. I think maybe it could be used to show girls that they don't have to play with dolls, and boys don't have to play with cars or trucks. It does kind of play a little with stereotypes of gender norms, but there is a nugget of truth present in those stereotypes of gender norms. I know that I have personal experience with family members only buying me things for "girls" when I sometimes wanted a GameBoy game or something like that. I think that this could show children that they don't have to play or like certain things just because they're a "girl" or "boy." This book subtly discusses gender expression, and looks at how extended family may influence/affect someone who may identify as other than their biological sex.
October 11, 2018
“A Fire Engine for Ruthie” (realistic fiction) by Leslea Newman is the tale of a grandmother’s transformation of expectations for her granddaughter’s interests and activities. The book by Newman is essential to my text-set, because most children can relate to Ruthie's story. Even as children, society dictates how we should act and what we should do based on our gender. Through "A Fire Engine for Ruthie" children are able to see a new perspective that challenges the idea of gender fitting neatly into one of two boxes. For example, Nana wants Ruthie to paint flowers, but instead, Ruthie paints motorcycles. Therefore, this story could be a great starting point for children to begin to dissect society's expectations of gender identity being assigned at birth. Unfortunately, however, there is little cultural diversity included in the text or depicted in the illustrations.
Considering the quality of the story, one of its main strengths are the detailed and colorful illustrations. The illustrations are not only captivating but also support the text and make the challenging vocabulary and sentence structure easier to understand. Furthermore, the grandmother's evolution of thoughts and Ruthie's actions to appease her grandmother cement their status as dynamic characters. Additionally, the story is also careful to avoid negative stereotypes by not portraying Ruthie as overly masculine.
Considering the quality of the story, one of its main strengths are the detailed and colorful illustrations. The illustrations are not only captivating but also support the text and make the challenging vocabulary and sentence structure easier to understand. Furthermore, the grandmother's evolution of thoughts and Ruthie's actions to appease her grandmother cement their status as dynamic characters. Additionally, the story is also careful to avoid negative stereotypes by not portraying Ruthie as overly masculine.
October 22, 2017
This was cute little story about accepting children for who they are and embracing the things that they like. Very cute.
November 10, 2025
Filler book. Don’t judge 😭.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?
February 11, 2012
This is a story about girl who wanted to play with fire engines, trains, and motorcycles rather than have tea parties with dolls, have a dress-up fashion show, or paint watercolor flowers - and her Nana who finally got it.
Ruthie visits here Nana and every day passes Brian's house and sees him playing with a toy she wants to play with. But at Nana's house there are only tea parties, dress-up clothes, and paints. While Ruthie tries to turn a cardboard box into a fire engine and row of chairs into a train, it's not quite the same. On her last day, Nana asks what she'd like to do and she says she wants to go play with Brian. When Nana sees how much fun she has playing with Brian and his trucks and cars and trains and things, she joins in and has some fun herself. In the end Nana, buys herself a train, Ruthie a fire engine, and two motorcycles for them to share.
What I love about this book is that it doesn't tell you its showing you a girl with non-conforming gender, but it is. It doesn't say "it's okay for girls to like boys things," but that's what the story tells you. And best of all, there doesn't have to be any justification or reason for it. KUDOS once again to Leslea Newman for creating an amazing and well done story that also happens to normalize non-traditional gender. PRGS award for you! (http://kvsdesigns.com/blog/book-awards/)
Ruthie visits here Nana and every day passes Brian's house and sees him playing with a toy she wants to play with. But at Nana's house there are only tea parties, dress-up clothes, and paints. While Ruthie tries to turn a cardboard box into a fire engine and row of chairs into a train, it's not quite the same. On her last day, Nana asks what she'd like to do and she says she wants to go play with Brian. When Nana sees how much fun she has playing with Brian and his trucks and cars and trains and things, she joins in and has some fun herself. In the end Nana, buys herself a train, Ruthie a fire engine, and two motorcycles for them to share.
What I love about this book is that it doesn't tell you its showing you a girl with non-conforming gender, but it is. It doesn't say "it's okay for girls to like boys things," but that's what the story tells you. And best of all, there doesn't have to be any justification or reason for it. KUDOS once again to Leslea Newman for creating an amazing and well done story that also happens to normalize non-traditional gender. PRGS award for you! (http://kvsdesigns.com/blog/book-awards/)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2016
A Fire Engine for Ruthie is a cute realistic fiction children's book. Ruthie enjoys visiting her Nana and Nana loves Ruthie very much. Her Nana always makes sure she buys her favorite foods and lets her pick out her favorite books from the library but when it comes to toys... Nana and Ruthie don't see eye-to-eye. Nana has all of the stereotypical girl toys for Ruthie to play with. She has dolls, dress-up clothes, tea sets, etc. Ruthie makes several subtle hints that she would rather play with the little boy in the neighborhood who has trains, motorcycles, and a bright red fire engine. Nana never quite heard her until they were painting and Ruthie painted a motorcycle, then another, then another. Nana finally takes Ruthie to play with Brian and sees how much fun Ruthie is having with the stereotypical boy toys. Nana even joins in on the fun. When they left Brian's house they went to the store to buy a train set, a fire engine and some motorcycles to play with. The wonderful illustrations and text will easily draw children in and engage them in what is going on. I love how this book teaches both boys and girls alike that no toy is specific to one gender. There is nothing wrong with a girl not enjoying tea parties and there is nothing wrong with a little boy who doesn't want to play with trains or trucks. Both are perfectly acceptable and normal.
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December 30, 2015Oh, poor Ruthie, whose Nana keeps pushing her into stereotypically girl activities :( I appreciated that Ruthie would initially go along with what her Nana proposed and then shift it to incorporate the stuff that she was more interested in. And I really appreciated that eventually Nana asked Ruthie what she wanted to do. Bonus points that Nana ultimately finds herself really enjoying Ruthie's preferred activities as well.
February 2, 2012
32 months - O really liked this book, not all little girls want to play dress up and tea party, some like cars and trains and that's ok. Way to go grandma for understanding and getting into it. The little girl might have been a bit insensitive but she did attempt to do what grandma wanted and adapt it to suit her interests. All in all it's just a nice story.
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January 16, 2023Ruthie came across a bit ungrateful to me for all that her Nana was doing for her-- I felt like she could have broadened her own horizons instead of the solution being for Nana to go buy tons of toys that she liked instead. I did like the message that girls can love fire trucks, trains, and motorcycles...the delivery of the message just wasn't my favorite.
March 7, 2015
Ruthie wants to do more than play with dolls and play dress up. She wants to play with Brians toys that consist of firetrucks, trains and motorcycles. She needs to be more respectful of her Nana. In the end Nana realizes she wants to play with Brians toys and she joins in on the fun.
July 26, 2015
Ruthie is lucky to have a grandmother who wants to play with her, but Ruthie isn't very interested in dolls, tea parties, or dress up. A lively story about stereotypes that young readers can understand and appreciate. The large and bright illustrations will make this a fun read aloud.
February 21, 2012
I wanna be a fire when I grown up.
February 21, 2012
ist sorda cute and sorda not but its ok!
Want to read
March 23, 2018This book gives a very practical scenario of gender diversity that many young girls and children in general can relate to.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews