Emergency! Emergency! Vehicles to the rescue by Rhian Williams. Illus. by Tom Jellett

Emergency! Emergency! is a stunning picture book that is sure to delight all the children who read or listen to the story. Written in rhyming verse, Rhian Williams has created a narrative that reads aloud beautifully, with each double page spread having complementary pictures by Jellett. On the first double page spread the reader is introduced to  vehicles that may be familiar:

Fire trucks, police cars and ambulances too!
Here come the vehicles to rescue you!

There is a multitude of detail in the illustrations concentrating on each of the vehicles, with the people in them initially more in shadow. Turn the page and there is a huge fire truck showing the firefighters in their protective gear with their hoses putting out a car fire. Turn the next page and there are police cars racing to the rescue of a little boy who is lost in the city, with sympathetic police trying to help. Other rescue vehicles include an ambulance, a water bomber, a helicopter, a jetski, coast guard boat, dinghies in floods, a rescue drone, flying doctor plane and mobile command post vehicle. Then readers are given the 000 number to call in an emergency – and it is quite evident from the story and pictures just what an emergency is!

Rhian Williams’ Ten little figs was a CBCA Notable book, and her knowledge about emergency vehicles from her work in her local Bush Fire Brigade is evident in this impressive picture book. Tom Jellett, illustrator of My dad thinks he’s funny, has drawn pictures that are a joy to examine as always. The Facts section at the back of the book gives more interesting information about each of the vehicles and how they are used.

Children who are lucky enough to be exposed to this outstanding picture book will learn about the vehicles and people who keep them safe, while those children who are fascinated by vehicles will really have fun examining them all.

Themes: Emergencies, Emergency vehicles.

Pat Pledger