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Awards/Reviews/Readers Comments
Volunteer State Book Award Master Reading List (Sponsored by Tennessee
Library Association and Tennessee Association of School Librarians)
A “Read On Wisconsin” Recommended Read
PMA Ben Franklin Award Finalist - Multicultural
“Tito, the Firefighter is an inspirational story …written by a NYC firefighter…excellent
book that should be on every bookshelf.”
Jennifer LB Leese, author
“I highly recommend this book!”
Richard Picciotto, Deputy Chief Retired NYCFD, author of Last Man Down
“Picture book storytelling at its best. The skillful combination of English and Spanish
words along with the authentic illustrations enable youngsters in Spanish Harlem to both
hear and see themselves in their neighborhood environment. The friendship and adventures
of Tito and Richie are a fine addition to those generations of stories that include fire
houses, fire equipment and especially firefighters.”
Dr. Jim Higgins, Prof. Emeritus, Queens College, City University of New York
“Serving and protecting the community is engrained in the soul of every firefighter—on
and off the job…member Tim Hoppey demonstrated that common thread recently with the
publication of his children’s book [Tito, the Firefighter]…fire fighters work hard to
overcome the language barrier by taking classes and working on their Spanish, but it can
be an issue…[Hoppey hopes] this book can serve as a good educational tool and bring the
Spanish and English speaking communities together…”
International Association of Fire Fighters
“What a great story! Children always love a book in which the child becomes “the
teacher” and helps out the adult. The look on Tito's face as he translates for Richie,
the firefighter, is priceless…Tito lives out every little boy's dream! The bright
full-page illustrations are filled with detail right down to the page numbers inside
a fire shield…Un libro excelente!”
Francis F. Cabana, 4 th grade teacher Kensington Road Elementary School, Glen Falls, NY
“…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. ”
Kirkus Reviews
“The text is not in the two languages of English and Spanish, but rather the
bilingual eight-year-old Tito uses some Spanish words in telling his story. Passing
in front of a firehouse in Spanish Harlem, Tito sees a man gesturing excitedly and
speaking Spanish to one of the firemen. Tito interprets what the man is saying; he
saw smoke coming from a window. Then Tito goes with the firemen in their truck to
investigate. It's only a pot of rice smoldering when it was left on a stove by a
woman when she fell asleep in her apartment. But the incident gives Tito the chance
to learn what firemen are like and see how they react to a fire. Tim Hoppey, the
author of this simple children's tale, is himself a fireman, who was involved in
the 9/11 rescue efforts. Ages 3-6.”
Midwest Book Review
“Tim Hoppey, a New York City firefighter in East Harlem, wrote, Tito, the Firefighter,
about a boy named Tito who wants to be a bombero (firefighter) and whose ability
to speak both languages helps the firemen in an emergency. Instead of being complete
in both languages, it uses a mixture, so children are introduced to vocabulary words
in Spanish. Realistic illustrations by Kimberly Hoffman plus abbreviated text make it
perfect for early readers.”
San Antonio Woman
“…Spanish words are presented in red, so they stand out, and all are explained within
the text…Gorgeous artwork coupled with a strong text that teaches about helping will
make this a favorite among little children, especially those who already have an
interest in fire trucks. Parents familiar with the popular bilingual children's
television program, “Dora, the Explorer,” will appreciate the message and approach
of this book…”
The Times Record
“…Hoppey has done an excellent job of capturing and conveying the world of New York
City firefighters and opens a window into the world of the children who befriend them.
Hoffman’s illustrations bring to the story a sense of warmth and community…I found this
text to be a meaningful book worth sharing with young children. It is simple, yet it
carries an important message. It is truly a tribute to firefighters, and it clearly
speaks to the importance of knowing more than one language.”
MultiCultural Review
“…This attention-catching book validates the importance of being bilingual…Children ages
four to eight will enjoy the big red fire truck and will identify with Tito’s excitement
…The book’s most vital lesson is that being bilingual is a great asset.”
ForeWord Magazine
“Sure, there are fire trucks and firefighters, and big adventure…enough on their own, to
capture any five-year-old’s attention. As a mom, it was my little boy’s immediate interest
in the Spanish words and phrases that captured mine. Woven into this delightful children’s
storybook was my son’s first Spanish lesson, and a golden opportunity to discuss cultural
differences, and how our lives are enriched when we all work together. Thank you, Tim Hoppey.”
Joanne Wilson, Setauket, NY
“…a refreshing slice of life. The Prismacolor pencil illustrations, enhance by Adobe
Illustratora , have a fuzzy-edged look…the bright color, activity, and realism give them
considerable child appeal…may have some application in ELL programs and could be used in
conjunction with Chris L. Demarest’s…Firefighters A to Z (S & S, 2000) to create a storytime
on these local heroes.”
School Library Journal
“… young readers and listeners can learn by the context setting–akin to immersion language
training. The book is on the mark as it shows how often young children are thrust by
situations into translation responsibilities dealing with emergencies. We rated it a high
four hearts.”
Heartland Reviews
“…Told primarily in English, with embedded Spanish words, this exciting story may well
inspire English-speaking children to want to be bilingual too. Hyper-realistic, computer-
enhanced illustrations give lots of visual detail…”
Notes from the Windowsill
“…The combination of good public relations and the importance of knowing a second language
team up to save the day. The need for a diverse department which reflects the community is
expressed in a subtle, effective manner.”
Albert Gonzáles, BA, Education, Captain & 23-year veteran FDNY, Former Vice-President,
Hispanic Society, FDNY
“…this was the first one [bilingual book] to prompt our child to want to practice
her skills…The principle value is in introducing Spanish. That said, there are other
things to do. You can teach safety skills and how to report fires. You can also
bring the book to life by visiting a firehouse.”
The Reading Tub
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