Firefighter Flo!

Big Jobs, Bold Women

by Andrea Zimmerman, Dan Yaccarino (Illustrator)

Ring! Clang! Firefighter Flo and her team race to stop a fire in this picture book filled with bold art and fun onomatopoeia.

Last night at the Fire Station…
With a jingly-jang, the telephone rang.
RING-RING! RING-RING!

Firefighter Flo jumps out of bed! There’s a fire and only a pro like Flo and her team can help. Read along as the firefighters put on their fireproof suits, rush off in their truck, douse the fire with the big hose, and rescue the family pet. The CLANG of the siren and WHOOSH of the fire will have parents and kids reading aloud together.

The Big Jobs, Bold Women series introduces even the youngest readers to strong women in tough hands-on jobs. The first in the series, Firefighter Flo! makes this empowering message accessible with a showstopping art and story about a job every kid loves. Don't miss out on the second book in the series, Crane Jane!

With dynamic artwork from Dan Yaccarino, Nickelodeon character designer for The Backyardians , and energetic verse from Andrea Zimmerman, best-selling author of Trashy Town, Firefighter Flo is the perfect read for kids who love to watch the big red fire trucks rush by.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, Firefighters, Feminism, Transport

32 pages, Hardcover

Published November 8, 2022

About the author

Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha are married and have created several children’s books together, including Digger Man, Fire Engine Man and Trashy Town, an ALA Notable Book. Zimmerman was born in Ohio and grew up in New York, Utah and California. When she was young, she loved exploring nature, reading comic books, and riding her horse. She studied fine arts for children in college, then later went back to school at UCLA and became a dentist. Clemesha grew up in England and moved to the United States when he was 16. He always loved playing tennis, drawing and reading. He studied English in college and became an elementary school teacher. Zimmerman and Clemesha live in San Diego, California, with their three sons.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrea...

Reviews

[Darla]

This book is part of a new series called "Big Jobs Bold Women" and is perfect for story circles. The preschool crowd will love the clear graphics and extra sounds throughout. Flo is part of a diverse group of firefighters and she leads them to fight a fire, save a dog, and back to the station for a rest.

Hey, yo!
Firefighter Flo!
You're a hero!
You're a pro!

[Kirsti]

I think small kids will love this because of the STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! and the WHOOOOOSH and the SCREEEEEECH. Colorful, appealing art. Minor quibble: Why don't books about firefighters ever mention the smell of a fire and its aftermath?

[Andy]

The concept is good, but what is with the execution?

[Vera Godley]

The main character is Flo, a female firefighter and she leads the crew of firefighters on a night-time excursion to put out a fire. From the moment the phone sounds the alarm and the firefighters hustle to go to the fire to when they return to their firestation, their actions are captured in terse text that small listeners can join in by repeating words.

Book has particularly dark pages which are representative of night time. It does seem a bit stark.

A fun read for little ones who always love fire trucks and firefighters.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review.

[Lisa]

Inevitably, this will be compared to Fire Chief Fran since, on the surface, they are about very similar topics: Black female fire chiefs.

But they are pretty different. Flo is more narrow in scope and shows one event in the life of a firefighter: namely fighting a fire. I always love Yaccarino's art and how vintage and pop art it feels. I think Flo will appeal to younger kids with its rhyming and quick pace.

[Tiffany]

Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Firefighter Flo! is a story about Flo and her team responding to fires in their community.  The prose consists of descriptive words like CLANG of the bell and the WHOOSH of the siren on the truck.  The book follows Flo and her coworkers as they go out in their community but only after putting on safety gear and loading into their truck.  Flo’s team works together to put out the fire and rescue a pet before heading back after a very long night.

Illustrations by Dan Yaccarino are bold and almost retro, especially with the firefighter outfits.  I like that the descriptive words are capitalized giving an opportunity for children to read along.  Firefighter Flo is inspiring to young girls, showing that anyone can become a firefighter despite age or gender.

This book is the first in the Big Jobs, Bold Women series which aims to cover women in certain jobs that work with teams, and if the other books are as colorful and fun as this book, you’ll want to track the series also!

[Stephanie Tournas]

Bold, vibrant art and simple text describe a night’s work at a busy fire station. Brief, repetitive rhyming text uses lots of onomatopoeia for the sounds of the firefighters’ work extinguishing a house fire: “SCREEEEEEEEECH went the tires! / The water rushed. The hoses gushed. SSSSHHHHHH!” Readers will thrill to the suspense as Flo and her team rescue a pup by chopping down a door: “BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!” The drama of the outdoor scenes is accentuated by the black background. Flo, a woman, and most of other firefighters are Black, and they rescue a biracial family. A polka dotted Dalmation is on hand for the rescue.

Yaccarino’s stylized graphic art is well suited to the topic, portraying the speed of a running firefighter in the slant of their body and the drama of the water and smoke by swirling spirals. Although there isn’t a lot of detail in the fire station or backgrounds, the action and fun text will keep toddlers entertained. This is the first title in the series, “Big Jobs, Bold Women.”

[YSBR]

This board book edition of Firefighter Flo! is another in the series Big Jobs: Bold Women, which also includes Crane Jane! and Plumber Pearl!, all with the admirable goal of celebrating women in fields traditionally identified with men. Zimmerman serves up jaunty rhyming text supplemented with onomatopoeia, which follows Flo and her racially diverse fire crew (with 2 other pony-tailed women, 4 men and a spotted dog) as they race to a mid-century modern house and rescue a puppy. Very young readers will enjoy the modest thrill of anticipation as Flo swings her axe (“BANG! BANG!”) and  pushes open the door (“WHOOOSSHH!”). Smashes, crashes, hisses, and sighs of relief soon follow, as well as the reassuring image of a family reunited with their pup. Yaccarino’s delightful digital artwork shows Flo as a dark-skinned woman with curly hair, always at the front of her crew. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Kris]

2024 Indiana Firefly Award Nominee

Great for storytime, as long as you don't follow the story too closely. Bright, bold and clear illustrations, short text that invites audience participation with fun sounds and onomatopoeia, and diversity reflected in the various skintones and genders of characters.

My overthinking brain wonders about the family whose house was burning. With all the smoke, ceilings crashing, and chopping through walls with an axe, the family is left smiling at the end waving goodbye. Granted, their puppy was saved...but I don't think they would be smiling on the side of the road waving goodbye at the end of this ordeal when they clearly can't stay in their house. It's very possible that this is common in firefighter books and I've always overlooked it 🤷‍♀️

[Cheryl Gladfelter]

4 stars for Flo being awesome, the rhymes and sounds, and the illustrations.

That said: I realize I'm reading this book having just seen a huge fire yesterday that definitely made the family's house unlivable. Reading this, watching Flo break down the door, window breaking, ceiling crashing--the family is, of course, grateful that Flo saved their dog! And they say thank you and wave to the firefighters as they leave. But would they be smiling? Who is saying good luck to who? Firefighters to the family, who definitely cannot return to their house and it's the middle of the night and where are they going to go? There is no one else around.

I realize that this is me projecting and spiraling, and I really did love this book, but I am worried about this family.

[John Mullarkey]

A quick-paced story with Flo - a firefighter who leads a crew of firefighters during the night to put out a fire and save a small dog is a perfect story for young readers or listeners in a group. There is plenty of repetition and rhyme, along with examples of onomatopoeia that make it a fun book to share. The illustrations by Dan Yaccarino are colorful and bold and have a retro/classic style to them that compliment the story very well. I noticed that this is a part of a series, "Big Jobs, Bold Women" that will place women as main characters in roles that are diverse and inclusive - another positive element of the book. This will certainly be a great addition to libraries and classrooms during fire prevention week and throughout the year. "Way to go, FIREFIGHTER FLO!"

[Roben]

Firefighter Flo is awesome! She and her crew answer the call in the middle of the night and rush from the firehouse to the burning house. Uh-oh! There's a pup trapped inside - but not to worry! Brave Flo is able to rescue the dog. What a great read-aloud for the preschool and K crowd! They will certainly enjoy repeating the sounds and acting out parts of the story.
This is the first book in a new series - Big Jobs; Bold Women. I enjoyed the bold colors that Dan Yaccarino used and I'm thrilled that our hero is a woman of color!

[Brooke - TheBrookeList]

So many sounds, bright bold colors, and diverse representation. Firefight Flo! shows us a bold woman doing big work, without feeling overtly feminist. Flo has other friends that help her, male and female, and together they show us how they attend to the fire call. It appeals to the sounds kids love and has a classic feel. One I could see our younger children requesting again and again.

Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Melki]

From the dream team that created my youngest son's favorite childhood book - Trashy Town - comes the tale of a brave firefighting gal and her cronies on their mission to battle a blaze. Dan Yaccarino's artwork is the real star here, but this is worth a purchase as my experience as a children's librarian has taught me - KIDS LOVE FIREFIGHTING BOOKS!

[Melanie Hetrick]

Fire fighter Flo answers call and rouses the fire house to respond to a house fire. Good title to show women in non gender-conforming occupations. Children always enjoy books with fire trucks in them.

I have enjoyed other titles in this series, and this book is no exception. However, I was left feeling concerned at the ending of this book. After Flo rescues the dog from the house, the family cheerily wishes the fire dept "good luck"? Seriously? Their house just burned down and this is the author's & illustrator's chosen response?

Not recommended for storytime.

[Lauren]

This is a great story time book! Not only does it show that women are firefighters too--and a woman of color too!--but it is simple, colorful, rhymes, and has opportunities for the reader to make some fun sound effects. While it's not likely the kind of story that you will remember the rest of your life and want to read over and over again, it's a fresh breath of diversity in a notoriously male-centered field.

[Liz]

Firefighter Flo and the rest of the firehouse responds to a call about a burning building. Always great to see women as firefighters saving the day compared to the default men. A good new addition for firefighter books. The bold digital illustrations make this a good one for a large crowd read aloud and emphasize the red throughout. The rhyming text makes this a great read aloud to then do "Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck."

[Ashley]

In this Big Jobs, Bold Women Series, the story follows a female firefighter named Flo who wakes up at the firehouse to a call for a house fire. She alerts the rest of the crew and they quickly arrive and save the family and Flo retrieves their pet dog from the burning flames. That's pretty much the story and is quick and to the point. Perfect length for the youngest of readers. It is also filled with lots of onomatopoeia and "loud sounds" and is a great read aloud.

[Marian Librarian]

06/17/25 Used "Firefighter Flo!" for a family storytime (the theme was the color red) and it went over well. I used the picture book copy for storytime and a board book copy went on display with the other red books. This has plenty of opportunity for interaction (make a siren noise, give Flo a thumbs up for putting out the fire, etc.) and I like that it shows a woman firefighter being strong/heroic. A copy of it immediately checked out by a family, which always bumps it up a star for me.

[Barbara]

Although one would hope that the world knows that women can do pretty much anything, including becoming firefighters, a traditionally male role, the peppy board book serves as a reminder. Flo alerts her crew, races to the fire, uses a hose, crashes into a door with an axe, saves a dog, and heads back to the fire station for a well-deserved rest. It's all in a day's work for Flo, who clearly loves her work. Energetic rhyming text and illustrations keep the action moving.

[Aolund]

A fast-paced, appealing book about Flo, a woman with light medium brown skin and curly brown hair who is a firefighter. With lots of onomatopoeia and a nice rhythm, this book tells a quick tale of Flo working with her fellow firefighters to save the day at a house that is on fire.

Themes: Firefighters, Community Helpers
Age range: Toddler-Preschool

[Mary]

A high energy rhyming picture book about a fire fighting team led by Flo who are ever ready to fight fires. With a bouncy text and bold illustrations, this is a dramatic story of the team bravely putting out a fire in the middle of the night and rescuing a puppy. A wonderful book to include in units about community helpers and fire fighters.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book]

Super fun firefighter book. The onomatopoeias would make this a super fun read aloud. I also love that it is a female firefighter so that it is breaking the gender norms.

Storytime focus: Background Knowledge or vocabulary.

Possibly pair with: Fire Chief Fran, non-fiction firefighter's book.

[Dannaca]

We read this for our Community Helper story time. It's a fun one! Lots of onomatopoeia, which makes it super fun to read out loud for a story time. It's a short story, but a good one (Flo saves a dog from a fire...can't go wrong there!). The illustrations also stand out really well on the black background, so it makes it easy for the kids to see even if they aren't at the front of the room.

[Melissa the Librarian]

I enjoyed this one and it was quicker and simpler than Fire Chief Fran (which I also enjoyed). This is probably the book I'd choose for Storytime, just because the illustrations/text are simpler for those wandering attention spans...

[Victoria Whipple]

Zippy text with rhymes and onomatopoeia combine with bold illustrations featuring shades of yellow red and black, telling the story of a brwon-skinned, curly haired firefighter (and her crew who show varied skin tones) as they respond to an emergency. Spoiler alert: everyone is ok at the end!

[Peacegal]

This high-energy picture book depicts brave Firefighter Flo and her crew as they rush to the scene of a fire. I loved that Flo rescued a family's dog, showing that saving animals is also an important part of a firefighter's work.

[Erin Buhr]

Full of action, onomatopoeia, and a kick butt heroine, this is a fun read aloud for this month. It follows Flo and her team one night on the job. It’s predictable, but in a cheerful, heartwarming, energetic kind of way.

[Rachel (find_me_lost_in_a_book)]

Read this to my niece on International Women’s Day! Probably one of the best firefighter books I’ve read. Love that the firefighter is a woman! Lets not forget the amazing illustrations done by Dan Yaccarino!

[Erin]

Dynamic text and bold illustrations would make this very fun to read aloud. An action packed evening at the firestation, a competent deployment of water and resources to fight a fire, and then a final satisfying plop into bed after a good night's work.