The 24+ Best Firefighters and Fire Safety Books for Kids
By Lily | Published 16 June 2023 | This post may contain affiliate links.
Fire safety is a critical topic that every child should learn about from an early age. Teaching kids about fire prevention, fire drills, and what to do in case of a fire can save lives.
Fire safety books provide a great way to introduce and reinforce essential fire safety concepts to young children. These books combine engaging storytelling with informative content, making learning enjoyable and memorable. Whether through picture books or activity books, children can develop a solid understanding of fire safety tips and procedures.
In this article, we compiled a list of the best fire safety books, as we discover the best books to educate and entertain young minds. Books ranged from youngest to oldest.
Fire Safety Books for Kids: Inspiring Learning and Safety
1. Good Night Fire Engines, by Adam Gamble
Discover what it takes for a fire engine to get ready for the day. Good Night Fire Engines is the perfect gift for future firefighters everywhere, for birthdays, baby showers, housewarming and going away parties. “My Grandson just loves fire engines and loves this book too. Ideal bedtime story.” – Amazon review by S. Lawrence
Goodreads: 3.83 avg rating — 36 ratings
Reading Ages: 1 - 3 years
2. Fire Engine No. 9, by Mike Austin
Fire Engine No. 9, this high-action (yet toddler-friendly) beat-by-beat look at an emergency response is now available as a board book! “This book is pretty much a comic book but in board book form. I wasn’t impressed at first, but when I sat down with my toddler son and began to “read” it as well as describe what was happening in all the pictures it truly came to life. This is one of my son's favorite books now. I was guilty of judging this book at first just because I felt it lacked words, however because of that, it forces you to be descriptive to your little one which ended up being even better.” – Amazon review by KelMil
Goodreads: 3.76 avg rating — 600 ratings
Reading Age: 1 - 3 years
3. I Am a Fire Truck
Little firefighters will love learning the names of their favorite vehicles and seeing them in action! I Am a Fire Truck … a book and toy in one! “I work in a toddler classroom. This book is very popular! I taped it back together several times and finally decided to get a new one. It’s not super sturdy, but the toddlers love it so much and it’s inexpensive to replace if needed.” – Amazon review by Jamie
Goodreads: 3.49 avg rating — 45 ratings
Reading Ages: 1 - 3 years
4. The Fire Engine Book (Little Golden Book)
Children will feel as though they are riding the big red fire engines and hearing the "clang, clang" of the bell! Large-scale, active pictures in The Fire Engine Book will transport young readers to the scene where they'll see brave firemen connect hoses and save the day. “I purchased four fire truck books for my 2 year old after he developed an interest, and this one was his favorite! We read it in its entirety three times in a row last night and were not able to finish any of the others I ordered before he got distracted or requested this one be read again!” – Amazon review by LP
Goodreads: 4.14 avg rating — 1,890 ratings
Reading Ages: 2 - 3 years
5. Big Frank's Fire Truck, by Leslie McGuire
In this delightful picture book, children accompany Big Frank, the friendly fire truck, on exciting fire adventures. With spunky illustrations and simple text, young readers will learn about the important role of fire trucks and firefighters in keeping communities safe. Through Big Frank's Fire Truck adventures, children will gain insight into the duties of a firefighter and the equipment used to fight fires. “I have read this book for my 3 yo for over 50 times already. Still his daily favorite. He asks for this book to be read more than one time a day.” – Amazon review by W. Chan
Goodreads: 4.22 avg rating - 245 ratings
Reading Age: 2 - 4 years
6. Curious George and the Firefighters, by H. A. Rey
In this classic book featuring the beloved character Curious George, young readers accompany the mischievous monkey on a field trip to the fire station. Through George's adventures, children learn about the duties of firefighters, fire engines, and the importance of fire safety. With engaging illustrations and a fun story, Curious George and the Firefighters captures children's imaginations while imparting important fire safety concepts. “I purchased this for my grandson based on the high reviews and it was a hit! Even at just a couple months old he was interested at the pictures when we "read" this book. He is older now and it is still a favorite. Great tummy time book. Highly recommend.” – Customer Amazon review
Goodreads: 4.16 avg rating — 2,066 ratings
Reading Age: 2 - 4 years
7. Clifford the Firehouse Dog, by Norm Bridwell
Emily Elizabeth and Clifford go to visit Clifford's brother, who is a firehouse dog. When an alarm goes off, Clifford, the big red dog, comes to the rescue -- he helps others by rescuing the people and putting out the fire! “Once again, Clifford saves the day, as my toddler grandson roots for him during his brave rescue efforts. "Read it again, read the book again," says my 3-year-old grandson. A winner of a toddler book, the back page of Clifford the Firehouse Dog includes tips for what to do in case the house is on fire. My grandson also enjoys reviewing this portion with its "stop, drop and roll" reminder.” – Amazon review by Marcy W.
Goodreads: 4.21 avg rating — 6,575 ratings
Reading Age: 2 - 4 years
8. Richard Scarry's A Day at the Fire Station
From fast fire trucks and out-of-control hoses to sliding down fire poles and saving the day, this exciting and funny Richard Scarry’s A Day at the Fire Station will have little ones asking to read it over and over again. “At first I didn’t like the book. I thought there was too much happening, but my 2.5 yrs little girl absolutely loved it. We have read it more than 100 times in the last month :).” – Amazon review by M. Mohan
Goodreads: 3.97 avg rating — 395 ratings
Reading Ages: 2 - 4 years
9. The Berenstain Bears Visit the Firehouse, by Mike Berenstain
Come along as the Berenstain Bears meet everyday heroes—firefighters—in The Berenstain Bears Visit the Firehouse, an exciting addition to the classic New York Times bestselling series! “My students like the book so much that I had to pull sticks to see which one got to reread the book and keep it in their desk. Once that was decided, then it was on for the students to ask the student "When you are finished can I have it?" – Amazon review by Molly M.
Goodreads: 3.85 avg rating — 192 ratings
Reading Ages: 2 - 5 years
10. Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete, by James Dean
In Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete from New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean, Pete and his classmates are excited about their field trip to the firehouse. They get to slide down the pole, meet all the brave firefighters, and even try on their helmets and gear. “Firehouse Pete was our first Pete the Cat book. My toddler loves Pete’s story so much that we bought several other Pete books! These books are engaging with great use of sight words for learning to read.” – Amazon review by Alisha H.
Goodreads: 4.19 avg rating — 762 ratings
Reading Age: 2 - 6 years
11. Doggy Defenders, Dolley The Fire Dog, by Nat Geo Kids
In this endearing read-aloud picture book, readers meet courageous canine Dolley, and follow her as she spends an exciting day at work with the fire department. “The 6 year old boy I nanny for LOVES his Doggy Defender books and Dolley the Firedog is by far his favorite. He sits at the table everyday and reads it. Here’s his review: “Dolley is so cute and has a good nose. I love learning about dogs that have jobs and keep people safe. I want to have a yellow Labrador Retriever when I grow up. -Tyler, age 6.” – Amazon review by Set List
Goodreads: 4.38 avg rating — 37 ratings
Reading Age: 3 - 5 years
12. Firefighters A to Z, by Chris L. Demarest
Firefighters A to Z, a 2001 Children's Literature Choice. Every day, brave firefighters come to our rescue. When the fire alarm sounds, men and women put on their uniforms, slide down the firehouse pole, jump in their big red trucks, and rush to save our lives. “My three-year-old can't get enough of this great book! We found him correcting some of the more : firefighter/fire truck kids' books. After reading this book, he's the preschool version of a firefighting expert!! Great, and very detailed!” – Amazon review by C. Powers
Goodreads: 3.81 avg rating — 243 ratings
Reading Age: 3 - 5 years
13. No Dragons for Tea, by Jean E. Pendziwol
With its funny, rhyming verse and spunky illustrations, No Dragons for Tea shows kids that learning about fire safety doesn’t have to be scary. “I am a fire inspector and spend part of the year doing public education for K-6th graders in fire safety. I purchased a variety of fire safety educational books to read to kids several years ago in the search for a good educational book. This book has become my favorite, and go to book for reading to kids. It is entertaining, and yet allows me to teach important lessons in fire safety while keeping the attention of my audience on the story. It strikes the right balance between story and fire safety lessons, in a single package. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.” – Amazon review by K. Todd
Goodreads: 3.92 avg rating — 443 ratings
Reading Age: 3 - 6 years
14. Fire! Fire! by Gail Gibbons
Learn how firefighters battle flames in this classic nonfiction picture book by Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award winner Gail Gibbons. Fire! Fire! includes a glossary in the back with fire-fighting equipment keywords as well as a list of ways to prevent a fire and what to do if there is a fire. “My husband works with children in a special education program and this was one of the books the teacher used in the fire safety unit. My husband loved it so much that he ordered it for our son. Though slightly out of date this book presents a lot of good information for curious kids. It is great for our 2-year-old but is detailed enough for older children as well!– Amazon review by Kevin
Goodreads: 3.86 avg rating — 154 ratings
Reading Ages: 3 - 6
15. I Want to Be a Firefighter, by Dan Liebman
This book will help kids to imagine what it's like to be a firefighter! Starting with putting on the uniform and then jumping into the truck to rush off to save people and put out a fire, I Want to Be a Firefighter provides an early introduction to a day in the life of a busy firefighter. “Love this book! It is perfect for the 18month - 3-year-old age group. Beautifully illustrated pictures. Short sentences. Captivating and gets to the point. My toddler class loved this book during fire safety week.” – Amazon review by Beth L.
Goodreads: 3.81 avg rating — 31 ratings
Reading Ages: 3 - 6 years
16. Little Smokey, by Robert Neubecker
Featuring useful information about wildfires and fire prevention in the back of the book, Little Smokey is a must-have for children growing up in a world where climate change makes natural disasters a common occurrence. Parents looking to teach their kids about how fires spread and what they can do about it will surely want to take flight with Little Smokey. “We borrowed this from the library and my 3-year-old daughter was hooked. We had to buy a copy! It's a cute story about planes with excellent clear illustrations. There's a part that repeats and my daughter quickly memorized it so we have fun "reading" together. The physical book is an excellent addition to our bookshelf.” – Amazon review by Orangeroses29
Goodreads: 3.74 avg rating — 141 ratings
Reading Age: 3 - 6 years
17. Richard Scarry’s Busiest Fire Fire Fighters Ever!
Fans of firefighters and fire trucks will love this rollicking story from the great Richard Scarry in Busiest Fire Fighters Ever! “My three-year-old grandson loves Richard Scarry's busytown book and this is a shorter book that he enjoys just as much. Firefighters are a favorite subject of his and this humorous book makes him giggle.” – Amazon review by Jane L.
Goodreads: 4.02 avg rating — 321 ratings
Reading Age: 3 - 7 years
18. Plan and Prepare!, by Charles Ghigna
Do you know the four rules of fire safety? Have a plan. Get out fast. Stay low. And don't open hot doors. This sing-along picture book Plan and Prepare! will make kids want to practice these four life-saving rules over and over again. “This was a gift for my five-year-old neighbor. It’s never to learn about fire safety and influence career dreamland. He can teach and plan fire safety to his family and friends.” – Amazon review by mpj
Goodreads: 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
Reading Ages: 3 - 8 years
19. Stop, Drop, and Roll!, by Charles Ghigna
What should you do if flames get on your clothes? Stop, drop, and roll! This sing-along picture book will make kids want to practice this life-saving skill over and over again. Young readers will feel like heroes as they sing along to this catchy song about fire safety. This book, Stop, Drop, and Roll!, comes with online music access. “This fun book has lovely pictures, a great catchy song to sing along to, and breaks down fire opsafety easily for young children.” – Amazon review by ShaRhonda
Goodreads: 3.62 avg rating — 21 ratings
Reading Ages: 3 - 8
20. Miss Mingo and the Fire Drill, by Jamie Harper
Miss Mingo and the Fire Drill takes readers on a field trip to school, where Miss Mingo's class learns about fire safety. This informative book introduces fire safety rules, such as "stop, drop, and roll," and the importance of practicing fire drills. The story features a diverse group of animals, making it relatable and enjoyable for young readers. “Perfect for teaching my students about fire drills and what to expect! My students referenced the book after our fire drill so I know they enjoyed it! I read this to K-2 students.” - Amazon review by Lindsey K.
Goodreads: 3.64 avg rating — 153 ratings
Reading Age: 4 - 8 years
21. Firefighters’ Handbook, by Meghan McCarthy
From award-winning author-illustrator Meghan McCarthy comes an entertaining picture book that explores the training and day-to-day life of being a firefighter as they put out fires and saves lives. “Such a cute book! An essential for the firefighter kid! And it’s accurate! My dad is a firefighter and it’s all correct! It’s a fun book to pretend play too!” – Amazon review by GalwayK.
Goodreads: 4.17 avg rating — 161 ratings
Reading Ages: 4 - 8 years
22. Firefighter Ted, by Andrea Beatty
Burning toast, a sizzling sidewalk, volcanoes erupting at a science fair... Danger lurks everywhere, and not a firefighter is to be found.... Ted knows it is time to become a Firefighter Ted. It's the least a helpful bear can do. "My 2-year-old daughter would cry every time we had to return Firefighter Ted to our local Library so I decided that Santa should bring her her very own copy for Christmas. The best decision ever. Now we can read the book whenever she wants (which is at least twice a week). She loves how silly Ted is but how even little Ted can save the day at the end. A great book for kids who love firefighters." - Amazon review by Erica Z.
Goodreads: 3.52 avg rating — 413 ratings
Reading Age: 4 - 8 years
23. Arthur’s Fire Drill, by Marc Brown
Join Arthur and his classmates as they follow the procedure during a fire drill which highlights the significance of staying calm and listening to instructions. With its relatable characters and engaging storyline, Arthur's Fire Drill is a favorite among young readers. “Great book about fire safety. I used this for my mixed class of 4-6 year old children when we did fire safety. This book was the perfect set up for learning about drills and how to handle them. The kids each had a turn being the "fire boss" and they loved it. It was a very well received lesson and I think that this book is great for preschool and kindergarten age children.” – Amazon review by KY
Goodreads: 4.13 avg rating — 151 ratings
Reading Age: 5 - 8 years
24. Let’s Meet a Firefighter, by Gina Bellisario
Firefighter Jim works at the fire department. He knows how to handle all kinds of emergencies. He shows a group of kids how he does his job in Let’s Meet a Firefighter. Let’s hear it for firefighters! “Used as part of our community helper unit for my elementary self-contained classroom - Easy read, informational, and great pictures kept my students engaged.” – Amazon review by C. Houckre
Goodreads: 4.17 avg rating — 60 ratings
Reading Age: 5 - 8 years
25. Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey, by Maira Kalman
The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboat of its time, but by 1995, the city didn't need old fireboats anymore. So the Harvey retired until a group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap. Then, one sunny September day in 2001, something so horrible happened that the whole world shook. And a call came from the fire department, asking if the Harvey could battle the roaring flames.
Goodreads: 4.37 avg rating — 1,090 ratings
Reading Age: 5 - 8 years
Fire Safety Books: A Fun and Educational Experience
Reading fire safety books with children is not only an educational experience but also an opportunity for quality bonding time. By discussing the stories and characters, parents and educators can reinforce the key takeaways and have meaningful conversations about fire safety.
Fire safety books for kids are informative and provide an enjoyable way to introduce fire prevention and safety concepts. From picture books that teach about the duties of firefighters to interactive activity books that engage young readers in learning fire safety tips, these resources play a crucial role in educating children about the importance of fire safety.
By exploring the adventures of fire trucks, firefighters, and fire safety rules through captivating stories and engaging activities, children develop a better understanding of fire prevention and gain the knowledge to protect themselves and others. So, ignite your child's curiosity with these wonderful fire safety books and promote a safer environment for everyone.