Firefighter Ted

September 14, 2009
When the overzealous young bear who enjoyed a stint as a medical “professional” in Doctor Ted
smells smoke one morning, he decides to become a firefighter and puts out the source of the “fire” (his breakfast toast) with a makeshift fire extinguisher (whipped cream in a can). After rescuing a kitten, two puppies and three tricycles from the sizzling hot sidewalk (he puts them all in a tree), he arrives at school only to find potential fire hazards everywhere. Lemaitre's thick lines and bold color schemes emphasize the resulting chaos as Ted “protects” his classmates, leaving them speechless (“No need to thank me,” he adds). Ted's blind confidence in his abilities will provoke lots of laughs. Ages 4–8.

September 1, 2009
K-Gr 2-A young bear wakes up one morning smelling smoke, and when he can't find a firefighter, he becomes one. But Firefighter Ted gets so distracted by the details of being a rescue hero that he doesn't pay attention to what is actually happening around him. He uses a fire extinguisher on a piece of burnt toast among other disasters. Ted does, however, end up "rescuing" the school principal in a fairly spectacular way, proving that he does have fire-safety skills. Beaty and Lemaitre, who previously teamed up for "Doctor Ted" (S & S, 2008), again bring a light hand to their story. Ted is lovable despite his bumbling and his tendency to cause more trouble. A good book for all wannabe firefighters and for those who just love a fun story."Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2009
Grades K-2 In this follow-up to Doctor Ted (2008), little bear Ted becomes a firefighter, with good-intentioned, comical results. The descriptive prose is simple and peppy, and the colorful illustrations nicely depict the diverse animal characters amusing expressions as they react to the mayhem Ted inadvertently causes. Kids may wonder about a few unexplained story angles, such as how, exactly, the principals pants ignite, but they will appreciate Teds well-meaning actions as well as the pleasure he finds in providing help.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2010
It's career-shift time for the civic-minded cub. As in Doctor Ted, the comedy stems from Ted's obliviousness; for example, he isn't fazed by Mom's annoyance after he sprays his burnt toast with a fire extinguisher/whipped cream canister ("now it's nutritious and safe"). Lemaitre's heavily outlined cartoons, rendered in day-glo colors, embrace the story's manic silliness.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2009
It's career-shift time for the civic-minded bear cub from Beaty and Lemaitre's Doctor Ted (rev. 5/08). The former pretend physician awakens to the smell of smoke and, since he can't find a real firefighter anywhere in his bedroom, decides to don the red uniform and tackle the job himself. As in the first book, the comedy stems from Ted's obliviousness while performing his self-appointed tasks. He isn't fazed by Mom's annoyance after he sprays his burnt toast with a fire extinguisher/ whipped cream canister -- "now it's nutritious and safe," Ted explains -- and takes bystanders' confused silence for admiration when he "rescues" a kitten (and two puppies and three tricycles) by putting them up a tree. Lemaitre's heavily outlined cartoons, rendered in day-glo colors, embrace the story's manic silliness, especially once Ted reaches school and continues in firefighter mode. He appears to be driving his principal toward early retirement, but along the way he saves the school science fair -- or at least the principal's pants -- from going up in flames. Well done, Ted. What will you become next? (The last page provides a clue...)

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)