Maya's Firefighter Day cover

Book 1 · Maya tries being a firefighter

Maya's Firefighter Day

The book that finally answers 'what do firefighters do when there's no fire?'

Ages 4-8 · 32 pages · read-aloud in under 10 minutes

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Peek inside

Maya frozen on a chalk hopscotch grid on the sidewalk, mouth open, as a huge red fire truck blurs past with lights on. Churro's ears blown back. Theo, Zuri and Mateo in the background on a porch.

WEEEE-OOOO! A fire truck roared down Maple Street. Red. Loud. Enormous. Maya stopped mid-hopscotch. Churro stopped mid-sniff. "That," said Maya, "is the best job in the world."

Three tools shown big and clear: a coiled hose, an extension ladder, a fire axe, with Maya straining to hold the hose nozzle with both hands and Captain Rosa steadying it. Churro sitting on the coiled hose.

"Every tool has a job," said Captain Rosa. The HOSE sprays water, far and fast. The LADDER reaches windows way up high. The AXE opens doors that won't open. Maya held the hose. It was heavier than Churro.

Wide park scene: a huge old oak, a tiny gray kitten on the top branch, the fire truck's ladder extended, Captain Rosa climbing carefully, the four kids and Churro watching from behind a rope line on the grass.

At the park, the kitten mewed from the very top branch. Captain Rosa didn't rush. She looked. She planned. "Ladder here. Feet there. Slow and steady wins." Up she went. One rung. Two rungs. Ten.

Big Kid Pages: real firefighter words

Turnout gear
The heavy coat, pants and boots that keep a firefighter safe from heat.
Hydrant
The short metal post on the sidewalk where the hose gets its water.
Engine
The fire truck that carries the water and the hose.
Ladder truck
The fire truck with the giant ladder that reaches high windows.
Drill
Practicing the job over and over so your feet know the way.
Dispatch
The people who take the 911 call and tell the station where to go.

Questions parents ask

What do firefighters do when there is no fire?

They train. Firefighters practice with hoses, ladders and rescues almost every day, check and wash the truck, visit schools, and cook meals at the station so they're ready the second the alarm sounds.

How do you explain a firefighter's job to a 4 year old?

Say: firefighters are helpers who keep people safe from fire. They have a big red truck, a long hose that sprays water, and a tall ladder. When someone needs help, they hurry to help — and the rest of the time they practice.

How long does it take to become a firefighter?

Usually one to two years after high school: EMT training, a fire academy of a few months, then tests. Many firefighters keep training their whole career.

Is Maya's Firefighter Day a good book for kindergarten career day?

Yes. It's a ten-minute read-aloud with a refrain kids shout along to, and the Big Kid Pages give real firefighter words, tools, and three questions to ask a visiting firefighter.

Are the facts in the book checked?

Yes. The Big Kid Pages are checked against the U.S. Fire Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics and read by a working firefighter before printing.

What does a firefighter do? The grown-up guide →

Maya tried it. Theo tried it. Zuri tried it. Mateo tried it. Now it's your turn… What do YOU want to be when you grow up?

Meet the whole crew