TITO, THE FIREFIGHTER/TITO, EL BOMBERO

Tito, a bilingual boy who lives in East Harlem, dreams of riding on the fire truck. His dream comes true one day when the firefighters need help understanding a neighborhood man who cannot speak English. Despite the title, Hoppey’s story is not truly bilingual, but is rather told in English with Spanish words and phrases worked in seamlessly. The main plotline is conventional, though the story has the benefit of suggesting the value of bilingualism. Hoffman’s illustrations, on the other hand, are special. Heightened, almost surrealistically sharp details produce a photographic quality that contrasts beautifully with pale background tones and scenes blurring off into the distance as the fire truck speeds by. Others have the sharpness of animated movie cels. A perfectly acceptable story elevated by first-rate artwork. (vocabulary list) (Picture book. 4-7)