Firefighter's Week: Pickles the Fire Cat

This post mentions those best public relations experts for the Fire Department Out There: children's story book authors. I think kids are interested in the equipment and the heroism, then frequently reassured by the idea of safety. I think the firehouse fascinates because it compares and contrasts to the family arrangement they know.

I don't think we ever lose that fascination with this profession. But here's where it starts!

This is Pickles, the Fire Cat, created by Esther Averill. He is a feral cat and a bit of a bully until the firemen give him Purpose in Life. Now he is the one who saves the cats stuck in the trees.  For you fire fighters out there who are tired of old Mr. Sweetcakes calling you about Tabitha--Esther Averill is who you should blame.

Just get your own Pickles! It'll work out.

Right now he is dancing with Florio and Jenny Linsky, the black cat who founded the Cat Club. We have some wild doings at the Fire House?? No, no, Pickles just Loves being a Fire Cat so much that he always hangs onto his hat. I do not know what Florio's deal is, however.  They are all playing at the Cat Club.

Richard Scarry has an entire book about Fire Stations. The raccoons are being paid good tax dollars to stripe the pole when a fire alarm goes off. All the Fire Pigs get smeared with red paint! Hardee har har! These firefighters won't let a little red paint stop them though! What good guys they are!

Just in case you fire folk are feeling bad about being portrayed as pigs, I have added a little equal treatment footnote. Personally I wish Mr. Scarry used the ginger cats for the first responders. They are adorable. But really, so are the pigs. No one should worry over this.

Then we come to the Big Red Dog created by Norman Bridwell.  Clifford is so huge, that without any training whatsoever (or opposable thumbs), he can handle the hose on a high-rise building. We are so glad! In all his books, Clifford scares people with his size and wins them over with his service. There are also children's fire safety rules in this book.

"Mama, I want to be a fire fighter when I grow up. Save people and do important things."

So there you go. Before life got complicated.

Thanks to all Firefighters this Fire Prevention Week!