Rusty The Forgotten Fire Engine Children's Book Review & Book Tour Giveaway

This morning, I have a fun children's book series in our book review spotlight! Check out Rusty The Forgotten Fire Engine by Joe Fisher, learn about the author & the series, and read my thoughts on the book! Check back tomorrow for my review of Rusty Goes to Water World! Be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

Book Series Title: The Adventures of Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine by Joe Fisher
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 4-8)
Genre:  Children's Fiction
Publisher:  Angler Publishing
Release date:   May 2017,  August 2021
Content Rating:  G for children.  

 

Book Title: Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine (The Adventures of Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine) by Joe Fisher
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 4-8), 32 pages
Genre:  Children's Fiction
Publisher:  Angler Publishing
Release date:   May 2017
Content Rating:  G for children.  

 

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About the Book

 

When the Mayor Himself decides the town of Someport-by-the-Sea needs a new fire engine the Fire Chief picks a shiny, bright red one that has all the latest tools needed to put out fires. The new fire engine becomes the joy of the children in town and the pride of the fireman and townspeople alike.

But after many years the fire engine becomes old and worn until everyone begins to laugh and call it Rusty. Sad and forlorn Rusty is ignored and forgotten. Then during the 4th of July parade in a summer like no other Rusty saves the day in a most surprising and unusual way.

Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine tells the story of a fire engine and the fireman and boy who love him. It is a lighthearted and multi-layered story, richly told, that will appeal to children and adults alike.

Whimsical illustrations create an air of fantasy, drawing children into Rusty’s world while stimulating their imaginations as they follow Rusty’s journey from hero to outcast and back again.

​The surprise ending brings the tale to a heart-warming and satisfying conclusion that reveals all things have hidden value that is waiting to be released. Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine is a classic story of love, loss, transformation and redemption. 

 

My Review

 

Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine Entertains and Teaches Readers. Like the kids in the story, children always seem drawn to the sights and sounds of a bright, red firetruck! The author uses that fun love of firetrucks to offer readers more profound life lessons about respect, value, friendship, empathy, and even aging. Parents and caregivers will find a lot to love in Rusty's story.

 

 

Readers will Love the Illustrations. With brightly illustrated pages, the author and illustrator join forces to bring Rusty's story to life. I loved the author's writing style and storytelling--and the excellent way he gave Rusty's story a happy ending. I found the text to be small and too much per page for younger readers/listeners. As an adult, I even had to break out the reading glasses--which I rarely do for a children's book. It could have been broken into more pages with more illustrations to make it easier to read for the younger readers in the target audience.  

 

Would I Recommend Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine by Joe Fisher? I loved Rusty's story and the bright, bold illustrations that brought Rusty's story to life. There was a lot of text on each page, which may make it better suited to the 6-8 age range. If you have a child that loves firetrucks and you want to share some important life lessons about aging, respect, and treatment of others--this is a great book!

 

 

Buy the Book

 

Joe Fisher Books
Amazon
iBook ~ KOBO
add to goodreads

Other Books in the Series

Book Title: Rusty Goes to Water World (The Adventures of Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine) by Joe Fisher
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 4-8), 36 pages
Genre:  Children's Fiction
Publisher:  Angler Publishing
Release date:   August 2021
Content Rating:  G for children.  

 

 

About the Book

The townspeople of Someport-by-the-Sea want to honor Rusty for saving them during the “Summer Like No Other” so the Mayor Himself decides a park should be named in Rusty’s honor. But, finding the right place is not as easy as it sounds. Then when students at Sea Stone Elementary take Rusty on their end of year celebration at Water World things don’t go as planned.

​Just as Mr. Spritz the Manager of Water World is about to close the park because of an equipment failure, Rusty, with the help of Fireman Jim and Mike the Deputy Fire Chief, once again saves the day and in the process finds a new home in a water park that bears his name.

 

 Buy the Book

Joe Fisher Books
Amazon ~ iBook 

 

Meet the Author

 

After successful careers in market research and public health consulting, Joe now writes fulltime from his home base in Sanibel Island, Florida. 
Like his career, his writing is wide ranging from academic books to works for the trade including: 

• Killer Among Us: Public Reactions to Serial Murder,  
• The Next Breath: New Life After Near Death 
• His work has earned praise from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, The Library Journal, The Miami Herald and the New England Journal of Medicine among others. 

Recently, Joe jumped to the world of children’s picture books with the series The Adventures of Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine: 

• Book 1 – Rusty the Forgotten Fire Engine 
• Book 2 – Rusty Goes to Water World 

A third book in the series, Rusty and Calliope, is in development.  
In addition, a fourth children’s book, Ospreys in the Outfield: A Sanibel Story will be available in the fall 2022. 

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads

 

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RUSTY THE FORGOTTEN FIRE ENGINE Book Tour Giveaway