Rita and the Firefighters - Tapa dura

The firefighters are busy saving the day. How can Rita join in and play? The firefighters are on their way! Michi and Jayden are playing firefighter, and Rita wants to play, too. But how can she join in when they're too busy putting out fires to notice her? Rita begins to feel left out . . . But with a can-do attitude and a classmate's good idea, Rita finds herself in the middle of the fun in no time. This story chronicles the challenge one child encounters as she tries to enter the play of others. The book contains a page of information to help you connect the story to children's experiences, which makes it a great teaching tool for your classroom or child care setting. Age focus: 3 and up.

Mike Huber has dedicated his life to serving children, families, and the field of early childhood. He has been an early childhood teacher since 1992 and currently teaches at Seward Child Care Center in Minneapolis, USA. Mike has also worked as a trainer and consultant for the Minnesota Department of Education, the Child Care Resource and Referral Network, and the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC). Mike served on MnAEYC's board from 2007 to 2011, presents at local and national early childhood conferences, and has written for Teaching Young Children and a number of stories, songs, and puppet shows for children. He is the winner of the 2012 Kate Davidson Tanner Award from MnAEYC, the Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Award Honorable Mention in 2006, and Teacher Leadership from Hamline University's Master of Arts Education Program in 2006. Mike holds a master's degree in education from Hamline University. Joseph Cowman lives and paints in the hills and valleys of suburban Idaho, USA. He is a long-standing member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and is the illustrator of a 2011 book series through Moonshoot. Joseph has worked on several e-book applications and works on toy and environment design. He also enjoys visiting schools and giving students illustration lessons.