Book Review: The Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas

As I said, we checked out some special firefighter Christmas books from our library earlier this month. I’ve already reviewed one, A Small Christmas, and now it’s time for another!

Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas is a true gem. Written by Kimbra Cutlip and illustrated by James Rice, the book follows the rhyme scheme of the original Night Before Christmas. I had hesitated borrowing this book from the library in years past because I know how long the original story is and I feared that the boys wouldn’t be able to handle it until now (ages 4 and 2). I was right. They not only handle it well but they really, really, really like this book.

In this particular Night Before Christmas series book, we see how the firefighters have gotten ready for Christmas by playing Santa (warning if you haven’t had the “he’s a helper of Santa because Santa is very busy” conversation), made a meal and so on. They were the “unlucky stiffs” who had to work the “Christmas Eve shift.” This makes us laugh this year as FireDad will be working Christmas Eve (but has Christmas Day off, thankfully). When, much to their surprise, Santa shows up! On an aerial rig with “lights on display,” because what else would Santa drive?

Then, as Santa is sampling their five-alarm chili, what else should happen but the alarm going off? I got all teary eyed when I got to the part that really hits home with any fire family:

We jumped in our boots as we’d all done before,
But a Christmas Eve call was different for sure.
Visions of families flashed in our heads,
While all of us hoped ours were safe in their beds.

Sniffle.

The firefighters race off to fight the fire into the dawning hours of Christmas morning. Tired, they return to their house to find a Christmas miracle: snow, a snowman and a “shiny new pumper.” And a laptop! And a toy chest! And new socks! And a new grill! And a bed! And a TV! And lounge chairs! And finished paperwork!

BigBrother loves reading through what everyone received. He also likes the part at the end of the book where Santa Claus signs the paperwork as “Ol’ Sergeant Nick.” The rhyme scheme of the book, familiar to them from the original story, keeps their attention as do the fun, festive illustrations. One review accused this book of having “halting” rhymes but I’m assuming that reader wasn’t familiar with some of the fire terminology. I do believe that this book will also be purchased for our library of Christmas books. I mean, it’s the perfect addition, is it not?

I think Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas would be a welcome and loved library addition for any fire family raising children. Or even for grandparents who are/were firefighters who like to read with/to their grandchildren. Furthermore, even if you aren’t a firefighter but have children who love fire trucks, this would be a great book to have for Christmas Eve or the surrounding season. This book is actually part of a series, Night Before Christmas Series which has everything from Nurse’s Night Before Christmas to Teachers’ to An Irish Night Before Christmas! I think we may start checking some other ones of these out over the next few years.

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[Disclosure: Book is from the library. Links are Amazon Associate links.]