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Fire Engine Shapes
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Bruce's Fifteenth Book
1988 - Lothrop Lee & Shepard Hardcover ISBN 0-688-07842-7 |
"A pleasant way for preschoolers to sharpen their visual discrimination skills."
Booklist, Sept. 1, 1988 |
| "Learning from Reviews" article about Fire Engine Shapes | ||
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"McMillan's vivid color photos appeal to the mind as well as the eye, instructing as they delight." |
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Kirkus June 15, 1988 |
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| <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Personal Note I took the photos in South Portland, Maine of an Emergency One fire engine. It carries 1,200 feet of four-inch hose, 700 feet of two-and-a-half-inch hose, 700 feet of one-and-three-quarters-inch hose, and 750 gallons of water. It can pump 1,500 gallons per minute. When I spoke at a school in South Portland, Maine I brought a surprise guest for the kids - the actual fire engine from the book was my surprise guest when I spoke at a school in South Portland, Maine, the town where I took the photos. It was pouring rain, but we all went out side to find shapes. The kids surprised me by finding a "B" for Bruce near the ladder. |
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I wrote the following letter-to-the-editor that appeared in School Library Journal, February 1989. Fire Engine Shapes Patricia Dooley wrote in her review of Fire Engine Shapes (Lothrop, 1988; SLJ, Oct., p 125): "And some adults will spot the homage to Demuth's famous painting of another Engine 5." Never has a line in a review of one of my books led me on such a delightful research journey from libraries to bookstores. I'm somewhat knowledgeable about art. But I truly was neither familiar with the noted painter Charles Demuth nor his significant painting, The Figure 5 in Gold. Thanks to Pat Dooley, now I am. I hope to see it someday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. After seeing a reproduction of the painting I'm amused at the coincidence between it and my book. They both deal with fire engines and with the number five. Of particular visual note is the striking similarity between the style of the number five in the painting and on the South Portland, Maine fire engine. This wasn't intended homage. I wish it was. It was simply coincidence and Patricia Dooley has a keen eye to have made the visual connection. It was an accurate comparison and I compliment her on her visual awareness. I now own the book, Charles Demuth by Barbara Haskell and have learned quite a bit about him and The Figure 5 in Gold. It's based on the poem, "The Great Figure" by William Carlos Williams. Isn't it interesting the things an author can learn prompted by a line in a School Library Journal review. Bruce McMillan Shapleigh, Maine Read the full article, Learning from Reviews, The Journal of the Children's Literature Council of Pennsylvania Volume 3, Number 1, 1989 |
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| Metropolitan Museum of Art I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold The William Carlos Williams poem, The Great Figure More about poem, The Great Figure Charles Demuth Museum Links to Arts Museums where Demuth art is exhibited |
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| <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Description Look closely at the fire engine on the book's cover. There are many shapes that make up its sleek design. The easiest to spot are circles, squares, rectangles, a triangle, and an oval. Turn the pages of this book and join Stephanie Tamaki as she crawls over, under, around, inside, and on top of Engine 5. There are shapes to find - and Stephanie too - in every picture. Have fun finding the shapes, but don't forget to look for Stephanie! |
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