Reviews for Little Miss Grubby Toes Steps Plays with Fire

Reviewed By Deborah Lloyd for Readers’ Favorite

This is a lovely children’s book with important lessons for young readers. The little girl’s father has nicknamed her Little Miss Grubby Toes, as she loves to go barefoot and has dirty feet. When she went to Tommy Sims’ fifth birthday party, she became fascinated with his mother striking a match to light the candles on the cake. She asked Mrs. Sims if she could light a match too, and Mrs. Sims taught the little girl about the dangers of fire. That evening, Little Miss Grubby Toes asked each parent if she could start a fire with a match, and they also talked about the dangers. Although she promised not to play with matches, the child disobeyed them. In Little Miss Grubby Toes Plays with Fire! written by Eddie Price and illustrated by Mark Wayne Adams, the consequences of disobeying one's parents are clearly portrayed.

There are several distinctive features to this children’s book. During the story, there are questions for the listening child, an effective method for thought-provoking conversation. The reminders to have a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher in the home are beneficial for all families. The realistic consequences – from burning her toes to expensive home repairs - of the little girl’s actions are very important for children to understand. Eddie Price has written a memorable story and Mark Wayne Adams has drawn beautiful scenarios to create a remarkable children’s book in Little Miss Grubby Toes Plays with Fire! This book is one of a series in which likeable, but stubborn, Little Miss Grubby Toes has more lessons to impart to children!

Reviewed By Jane Finch for Readers’ Favorite

Little Miss Grubby Toes Plays With Fire is written by Eddie Price and illustrated by Mark Wayne Adams and is a further adventure in the Little Miss Grubby Toes series, stories of a mischievous little girl who always seems to be getting into trouble. In this story, Little Miss Grubby Toes goes to a birthday party and is fascinated by the lighting of the birthday candle, and wants to light a match herself. Even though her parents both tell her this is dangerous as she could burn herself and cause damage, she is quite determined, and after discovering where her mother has hidden the matches she strikes a match, and the inevitable disaster happens.

The author, Eddie Price, has done a really good job of combining not only a captivating story, but lots of advice for little ones who might have this story read to them. As well as the danger of matches, there is the importance of listening to instructions, what to do in the event of a fire, remembering your address and what number to call in an emergency, and how to say sorry. The story is enhanced by the wonderful and colourful illustrations by Mark Wayne Adams which really draw the reader’s eye and depict the story perfectly. Add to this the interactive aspects and this is a lovely book for parents or grown-ups to read with a young child to address some of the issues raised. It would also be a useful tool in kindergarten for a teacher’s aide. A great book and doubtless a great series.

Reviewed By Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favorite

Little Miss Grubby Toes Plays with Fire! is an educational children’s book written by Eddie Price and illustrated by Mark Wayne Adams. Little Miss Grubby Toes, so named because of her insistence on a no-shoes policy, attends a birthday party. While there, she observes matches being used to light candles. As the match lights up, the flame thrills Little Miss Grubby Toes and she also wants to light one, but is told that it is too dangerous for her to do so. Little Miss Grubby Toes obsesses about the flame and is determined to light a match at home. She sees where her mother hides the matches and decides to climb up and strike one while her mother is outside. Fascinated by the flame, Little Miss Grubby Toes does not realize that it will burn her fingers until it is too late. As the flames spread to the curtains, Little Miss Grubby Toes finally realizes that playing with fire never ends well.

I found Little Miss Grubby Toes’ antics with fire to be rather intriguing and, as I read on, feared that her obsession would lead to a disastrous ending. This story is not only a must-read for young children (or a read-to book), but is also a book for new parents so that they can see the challenges they might be faced with as they start a new family. Safety around the home (or even outdoors) is essential for children to learn as there are so many hazards which can quickly lead to an outcome which nobody could possibly have foreseen unless prepared. Teaching fire safety is of the utmost importance at a very early age. Failing to do so will result in much loss and devastation – even tragedy – once a youngster’s curiosity gets the better of them. It is also essential to teach a child how to ring the emergency number in their country, along with learning how to spell own name and address, which will be required for the emergency services operator. I strongly recommend Little Miss Grubby Toes Plays with Fire! be stocked in early learning centres, hospitals, day care centers and in home libraries so that the ever-important message of fire safety can be learned by not only children, but by people of all ages.