Fire Truck vs. Dragon

by Chris Barton, Shanda McCloskey (Illustrator)

Overview

Can a Fire Truck and a Dragon be friends? Find out in this new companion to the household favorite Shark vs. Train!


It's the wackiest rivalry ever, when the fire-breathing ruler of the skies and the fearless fire truck go head to head in an epic battle of fire vs water! Who will win?

But wait, is it actually a competition?

Their rivalry takes unexpected turns as these two unlikely friends face off at a campfire, a birthday party, and more with unexpected results. Who will you root for?


With playful illustrations and charming text, Fire Truck vs Dragon gives readers an unexpected twist on a would-be rivalry, turned friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316522137
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/10/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	157,348
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Chris Barton is the author of books including bestseller Shark vs. Train, the Mighty Truck series, and acclaimed nonfiction such as The Day-Glo Brothers, Whoosh! and What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? Chris lives in Austin, Texas, where he has advocated for greater diversity in children's literature by cofounding the Modern First Library program with BookPeople. For more information about him, please visit www.chrisbarton.info.


Shanda (rhymes with panda) McCloskey is the author-illustrator of the STEM-friendly tales: DOLL-E 1.0 and T-BONE THE DRONE. She studied art in Atlanta and New York City, and now lives in Ball Ground, GA with two cool daughters, an awesome husband, and a scruffy dog named Jovie. Shanda loves visiting schools and invites you to visit and download free activities at ShandaMc.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/18/2019

This time, the joke is on readers: unlike the rivals in Shark vs. Train, Fire Truck and Dragon are besties (“We get along great!” says Fire Truck. “Why wouldn’t we?”). Each time there’s a possible confrontation involving Dragon’s incendiary talents and Fire Truck’s capacity to extinguish them, the result is comically companionable. Looking forward to what will happen when the two show up at the same cookout or barbecue? Dragon proudly brings homemade free-range potato salad, and a beaming Fire Truck provides “my famous firehouse beans.” “Is there something more they want to see from us? Something in particular?” Dragon innocently asks after yet another potential showdown ends on a benevolent note. They finally agree to “Facing off!!” (“Who will win?” says Dragon tantalizingly), which results in a staring contest. “I thought that... would be a crowd-pleaser,” says Dragon, puzzled. Frustrated expectations have seldom been so funny; Barton’s misdirections are beautifully timed, and McCloskey’s digitally enhanced pencil-and-watercolor drawings are bright and exuberant. And yes, fire is finally breathed and water is spurted: that’s how these two multifaceted pals say goodbye. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"A friendship story for the young and vicious."
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—Kirkus

*"Frustrated expectations have seldom been so funny; Barton's misdirections are beautifully timed, and McCloskey's digitally enhanced pencil-and-watercolor drawings are bright and exuberant."
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—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This book teaches readers to express and appreciate differences, value unlikely and unexpected friendships, and be proud of yourself and your loved ones for things you succeed at."
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—Booklist

"Sure to be a favorite at bedtime and storytime."—BCCB

From the Publisher

01/01/2020

PreS-Gr 2—Despite the two titular characters going head-to-head as depicted on the cover, the fire truck and the dragon are actually good friends. The title page spread reveals that the main characters are having a good laugh at the expense of a family of onlookers who have preconceived notions about what fire trucks and dragons are capable of doing. They are a winning team at campfires; with the help of his headlights and a flashlight, dragon creates a super shadow bunny on the tent wall at night. Meanwhile, both parents and baby appear baffled and disappointed that their marshmallows remain untoasted. On a hot summer day, Fire Truck provides snow cones, and on a cold, wintry night Dragon is right there with blankets. Registering the family's mounting frustration, the friends decide to give the people what they want: "Fire Truck vs. Dragon!!!" Anticipatory smiles quickly vanish as the friends face off…in a staring contest. Still, there is some redemption in the end though much is left to the imagination. The vibrant pencil-and-watercolor cartoon illustrations were edited in Photoshop and feature the radiant red truck and his bright blue friend in a variety of surprising activities; the little family's responses to them are hilarious and mirror the readers' sentiments. VERDICT This companion to Barton's Shark vs. Train is not only good fun, but also shows children that people with differences can still be friends.—Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2019-11-10
The ultimate showdown gets waylaid by an inconvenient friendship.

What could be cooler than a fire truck going head-to-head with a dragon? From the title, fans of Barton's Shark vs. Train (illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, 2010) will be prepped for some major fire-and-water action. The three child protagonists certainly anticipate a humdinger of a battle, but unfortunately, antipathy is not on the menu. Turns out, Fire Truck and Dragon are the best of buds. Worse, they won't even take advantage of their natural gifts. A campout sees them making shadow puppets with flashlights. A barbecue is just a chance for them to show off their "free-range potato salad" and "firehouse beans." And don't even bother inviting them to your birthday party, unless you just want them spinning you around before you try for the piñata. When at last the two do face off, what occurs? A staring contest. But readers shouldn't give up hope. They haven't seen how they say good night. Barton deftly upsets expectations, both for those familiar with his previous book and newcomers who know what "versus" means. Laughs come equally from the disappointed children in the book as well as readers' thwarted guesses as to what is going to happen. And McCloskey's daffy cartoons make a perfect complement to Barton's high-wired hilarity.

A friendship story for the young and vicious. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

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