Ambulance, Ambulance! by Sally Sutton

Ill. by Brian Lovelock. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925126303
(Age: 3-5) Recommended. New Zealand author Sally Sutton's popular picture books focus on introducing transport and industry to youngsters. Ambulance, Ambulance is the new addition to her previous publications Roadworks, Demolition and Construction. Her rhyming story, printed in bold text is fun to read aloud, with the noise of the ambulance sirens, the clonk of the doors and honk of the horn.
The ambulance crew race to the site of a bike accident, down a busy street, lights flashing, ready to help an injured boy. He has fallen off his bike and broken his leg. With the splint on, he is transported up the grassy slope and into the ambulance. The police and fire crew are also on the scene to direct the traffic and assist the other rider. The loud 'nee nar nee nar' of the siren sounds out as they rush down the freeway back into the city. After leaving the young lad in the emergency room, the crew take a minute to rest before they are called out again.
Brian Lovelock's bold saturated watercolours enhance Sally Sutton's informative text. His creative use of different perspectives engages the reader. The eye is drawn into each scene, delineated by vivid blocks of colour - grass green, sky blue, the bird's eye view of the blue freeway and the red and white of the ambulance.
Ambulance, Ambulance is a great resource for a Junior Primary unit on our community helpers, for Geography when exploring our urban environment and as an informative text for English.
Rhyllis Bignell