What do you think?
Rate this book
Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms
Who has time for hugs when they're busy fighting fires, driving an ambulance, and rocketing off to Mars? This little boy and his sister pretend to be all kinds of heroes—but they won't take a break to give Mom a hug. She reminds them that even firefighters hug their moms, but it's beginning to look like she will never get a cuddle!
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
4 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 17, 2008
It has very well-done illustrations. It clearly shows a boy going through his day in a normal way, full of realistic fantasy play. I like how he includes his baby sister in everything, and how his mother participates a little in his play. The language is realistic and appropriately detailed.
But we don't read it very often, and I think I know why.
Firstly, this is a *very* long, *very* wordy book. It's definitely better suited for children closer to 8 than to 4, and even then - it's a long book. You have to really make time for it, you can't just fit it in there. This isn't in and of itself a problem, plenty of the books we *do* read a lot are long, but it definitely doesn't make me more likely to want to read it.
Secondly, the mom in the book is... well... just a little needy. By the middle of the book her desperation for a hug starts to weird me out. I understand that kids go through that no-hugging stage, and you do start to really miss them - but I can't help thinking that she'd get more cuddles if she'd just SHUT UP about it already! I know if I want a hug, all I have to do is ostensibly refuse them and the next thing I know I'm being smothered! (And I'm not that needy for them, either.)
It's just not my thing. I know a lot of people sympathize with the mom, and I feel for her, but... it goes a little overboard, and not in the funny way that I like.
It might just be me.
But we don't read it very often, and I think I know why.
Firstly, this is a *very* long, *very* wordy book. It's definitely better suited for children closer to 8 than to 4, and even then - it's a long book. You have to really make time for it, you can't just fit it in there. This isn't in and of itself a problem, plenty of the books we *do* read a lot are long, but it definitely doesn't make me more likely to want to read it.
Secondly, the mom in the book is... well... just a little needy. By the middle of the book her desperation for a hug starts to weird me out. I understand that kids go through that no-hugging stage, and you do start to really miss them - but I can't help thinking that she'd get more cuddles if she'd just SHUT UP about it already! I know if I want a hug, all I have to do is ostensibly refuse them and the next thing I know I'm being smothered! (And I'm not that needy for them, either.)
It's just not my thing. I know a lot of people sympathize with the mom, and I feel for her, but... it goes a little overboard, and not in the funny way that I like.
It might just be me.
May 15, 2009
I love the creative way that the mom and kids play together. It makes me want to get on the floor with my kids and build a fort!
February 11, 2019
Quite a lot of traditionally boyish pursuits are pursued by a boy who cannot be persuaded into something so domestic as hugging his mother. Until he is.
Very fun. Nice sibling interplay between the characters, nicely intricate illustrations.
Very fun. Nice sibling interplay between the characters, nicely intricate illustrations.
October 8, 2020
This book is super cute. It is about a boy and his sister and the different professions they are pretending to be, such as a firefighter, a policeman, and even a construction worker. After every profession is explained, the mom always wants a hug from him, but he is always too busy tending to his job. That is, until the very end when he said "even firefighters hug their moms". This book is recommended for children aged 5-8.
March 8, 2019
A wonderful book that explores imaginative play.
December 31, 2025
Absolutely love this book and have shared it with all of my children. It is one that I will keep to share with grandchildren in the future.
August 16, 2017
This short children's book was so cute and charming. The main character throughout this story was an adorable little boy who dressed himself and his toddler sister into costumes that would help them to become anything that they dreamed they could be.
From firefighters to astronauts, builders to garbage men, this team of three (son, daughter, and mother) were anything they wanted to be on this special day; except, for giving hugs that the mother desperately wanted. Page after page, the little boy couldn't find the time to hug his mom. Will he give her a hug before the very end?
From firefighters to astronauts, builders to garbage men, this team of three (son, daughter, and mother) were anything they wanted to be on this special day; except, for giving hugs that the mother desperately wanted. Page after page, the little boy couldn't find the time to hug his mom. Will he give her a hug before the very end?
July 29, 2010
My 3.5 year old son seems to like this book but it's probably too long (at least for me) to read. For future reads I'll just skip a couple of pages here and there because the story just repeats different scenarios: children playing make-believe professions while mother constantly buts in to desperately get some affection. I love the childrens' imagination in this book and feel it will inspire the same in other children.
May 9, 2011
This is a fun book. My favorite part is how the imaginative young hero includes his little sister as part of each game. And I like that when Mom asks for a hug, the answer is always just a little bit different.
And I love this exchange:
"What's Mars made of?" my mom asks.
I tell her Legos.
"I'm surprised you came back," she says.
"I'm here to get my Lego men, then I'm going back again," I say.
And I love this exchange:
"What's Mars made of?" my mom asks.
I tell her Legos.
"I'm surprised you came back," she says.
"I'm here to get my Lego men, then I'm going back again," I say.
October 3, 2016
Frank and his sister love to imagine. This book is perfect for introducing some of the helpers in the community. It was a little wordy for my toddler. However he loved the illustrations of another small boy acting as a firefighter, EMT, police officer, construction worker, conductor, trash collector, and astronaut. As a mother, I loved the reoccurring idea that everyone hugs their mother. Even if you have to ask repeatedly.
February 22, 2014
Awesome! This is such a cute story about all the things a little boy pretends to be during the day--and how his mom tries to get him to give her a hug. I love the illustrations and how they show the boy using everyday objects to be his props in his pretend careers. This would be awesome to read and then role play with kids.
July 24, 2013
This was given to my son for his 3rd bday and he liked it immediately. I always enjoy reading it for the adult-targeted humor as well. A favorite line is "I am a firefighter. Every morning I wake up and look in the paper to see where the fires are."!
May 12, 2008
jobs, moms
not great plot; good pictures
not great plot; good pictures
May 21, 2008
This is so cute! The story and the pictures were adorable!
February 20, 2010
Through a constant change of profession, this little boy is too busy to hug his mom.
July 13, 2011
Great story outlining many different professions in a world of make believe.
May 21, 2016
I love this book because of the imaginative play it shows. The boys love it because on one page the kids in the story are pretending that their ceiling fan is a helicopter's blades.
May 19, 2012
Given to me for a Christmas gift in 2011 by my firefighter son. So cute!! Brought tears to my eyes. I love children's books!!
September 26, 2012
Nice illustrations and cute story. Molly liked how he had different jobs and I liked the story of the mom trying to play along and get a hug!
June 14, 2013
This was too cute! It gives a great view of a child using their imagination!
December 5, 2013
Adorable! Shows children different jobs you can have. Pictures are beautifully illustrated.
June 2, 2015
Very cute
Read
November 30, 2017This story is about a little red hen who is always on the move
while the other farm animals just lay around and sleep. She finds a grain of
wheat, plants it, harvests the wheat crop, shucks the wheat, grinds it, and
then bakes a loaf of bread. She shares her bread with the other animals
even though they didn’t help her.
while the other farm animals just lay around and sleep. She finds a grain of
wheat, plants it, harvests the wheat crop, shucks the wheat, grinds it, and
then bakes a loaf of bread. She shares her bread with the other animals
even though they didn’t help her.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews