Today I’m going to give you some gift ideas for books and movies that are about firefighting, fire trucks or firefighters in one way or another. One of the suggestions even has a Christmas theme with it. There are two separate sections: for the younger set and for adults. Why? I don’t think your three year old needs to watch Backdraft. I’m serious. Don’t do it.
For the youngest set, there are some great board books available with a firefighing theme. Fire Truck by Peter Sis is a great little book. The little boy imagines that he is the fire truck which made me smile as he shares a first name with my brother who wanted to be a fire truck when he grew up. Touch and Feel: Fire Engine is like any of the other Touch & Feel books. It’s simple, leaves room for other conversation and provides texture for the child to explore. While we own the previous two books, we do not own My Big Rescue Book though we do own another in the My Big Board Book series. If it’s like the other books, it will provide lots of new words for your little one to learn, lots of real-life pictures and hours of exploration.
For those children who can handle paper pages, the following books that we own are big favorites with BigBrother. Big Frank’s Fire Truck by Leslie McGuire has been a long time favorite, actually. The book tells the story of Big Frank from when he shows up for his shift at the fire department and takes readers through his busy day. In includes checking trucks, meals, naps (ahem, FireDad), an accident to which they respond and, of course, a big fire. At the end of the book, Big Frank goes home to his kids the next morning. BigBrother just loved that part. Flashing Fire Engines by Tony Mitton is a recent addition to our fire truck library. (We’re probably going to get the rest of his books as well.) It’s a quick read which makes it perfect for the ten thousand readings we’ve been through in the past month.
Perfect for Christmas (but one that we don’t own yet because I forget about it every year until after I’ve chosen our Christmas Eve book) is Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas by Kimbra Cutlip. Part of the Night Before Christmas series, it apparently chronicles Santa’s arrival at the fire house and a fire at a furniture store. I really need to remember to buy this for next Christmas Eve!
As for movies for the younger set: Elmo Visits the Firehouse might drive you insane if you can’t stand Elmo’s voice but the kids seem to love it. (Yes, we own it. Of course we do.) And Fire Monsters, while it may sound scary, is a great addition to your fire truck video library. It shows kids the training process to be a firefighter. Lots of sirens and a gruff sounding chief but BigBrother loves when I borrow it from the library (I should really buy it, no?).
And now, books and movies for the adult crowd.
If the firefighter for whom you are purchasing a gift is like the one living under this roof, chances are they might be a history dork buff. While Fires And Fire-Fighters; A History Of Modern Fire-Fighting With A Review Of Its Development From Earliest Times sounds a little bit dry to me, my guess is that a history-buff-slash-firefighter would find it very interesting. The description says that the book actually includes early books which are no longer in print and, as such hard to find, in one, modern book. Very cool, if you ask me. (But I’m also a dork.) Firefighters: Their Lives in Their Own Words by Dennis Smith sounds like a positive but realistic book about fire life from the mouths of those living that life. (In fact, now I want this book.)
For those of you who are purchasing a gift for a Christian firefighter, grab up a copy of The Firefighter’s Bible. I got this for FireDad two Christmases ago. It’s a beautiful, leather-bound edition with the Maltese Cross stamped in gold on the front. It’s very nice.
As far as movies go, there are, of course, the classics. Backdraft is one that is watched in our house about once a season. (Though we don’t own the 2-disc anniversary edition!) (Also? Just writing this makes me want to go watch it.) If you haven’t yet seen Ladder 49, you also need to add it to your fire movie library. Though, once again, have your tissues ready. I swear. Someone needs to make a happy firefighter movie. Seriously.
Also? If your firefighter is a fan of Backdraft, consider grabbing the audio CD so they can play the music and feel like a hero even when walking around the house. Right? Win. (And, yes, we own it. I swear. What? It’s good music!)
All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! And while I said today would be our last day, I have an extra special surprise for tomorrow. Be sure to tune in!
3 Responses to “2008 Firefighter Related Gifts: Books & Movies”
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[...] mentioned at the end of yesterday’s firefighter book and movie guide that I was bringing you a bonus post today! I’m actually hitting on three “big” [...]
The Kenlon book, “Fires And Fire-Fighters; A History Of Modern Fire-Fighting With A Review Of Its Development From Earliest Times”, was published in 1903, and is out of copyright. It may be downloaded — legally — in full, for free, at:
http://www.archive.org/details/firesfirefighter00kenlrich
This is a PDF scan of the original 1903 edition.
The download is 72 MB (532 pages), so I’d recommend either a high-speed connection — DSL or cable — or let it run overnight if you’re stuck with dial-up.
The scanned version does not include earlier works, and from looking at the description on Amazon for the re-issue, it appears that the published is republishing older volumes as a series.
Just found your site, but good post! Had to send it to my wife since it had some good suggestions. (I love getting my nephew firetrucks, books, etc.)
He had been quite upset that I wasn’t riding in our truck for the Thanksgiving parade
… though I had felt that running out the door for a 5hr call, making it up to the wife by helping with relatives was a safer bet.
To add to your list, I would also recommend “The Last Men Out: Life on the Edge at Rescue 2 Firehouse” by by Tom Downey. It was a fun read, and gave a little insight into what it is like for career/bigger city guys in the fire service.