Do you know who started the first volunteer fire company in the United States? Do you know who the first woman firefighter was? Or did you know that firefighters trace their heritage back to the knights of the Crusades? Sirens and Smoke is full of stories of bravery and tradition. You'll read about: • the brave guards who fought fire in ancient Greek and Roman communities.• the long-ago firefighters who battled the great fires that swept through Europe's big cities.• the community spirit that grew in the New World.• the African Americans and women who added their strengths to fighting fires.• September 11, 2001, when firefighters demonstrated their heroism. Fire can be an enemy—but down through the ages, firefighters have risked their lives to protect others against it. Their folklore reveals a long tradition of courage.

Features stories that capture the traditions and evolution of the firefighter, from those of ancient Greece and Rome to the firefighters who sought to tame the fires that once ravaged Europe's big cities to the heroes of September 11, 2001.

This book explains the ways in which families create theie own traditions, and pass those traditions down through the generations.

Jim Hawkins has worked in almost every aspect of firefighting, beginning as a wild land "Hot Shot", working as a radio dispatcher and firefighter in Arizona, assisting with arson investigations and almost 25 years as a firefighter and EMT for the City and County of Denver.He is quick to acknowledge that anyone working in emergency services will have a catalog of "war stories" to relate. In this book, he has assembled many of his experiences that range from humorous to unbelievable. He has made an effort to show the human and sometimes flawed life of a professional firefighter/medic. Although, possibly entertaining, "blood and guts" situations are not the focus of his stories.Looking back through the smoke and sirens, you will be able to glimpse the everyday workings of a big city fire station, the slang vocabulary that becomes a working language inside the department and some of the bizarre situations firefighters encounter.

Have you heard of Anansi, the mischief-making spider from Africa? Do you know about the Blackfoot woman who married a star? Or have you heard stories about Jack, the hero who always wins both the treasure and the princess's heart? Discover stories from North America's folklore, including tales about: • why the world is the way it is • heroes and fools • ghosts and horrors • death and the world to come. Stories have power. They share the wisdom of other generations. They stir our imagination. They give us hope and courage. And sometimes they just make us laugh!

Did you know that today's jolly Santa Claus was originally a Catholic bishop? Or that Santa Claus is connected to Saturn, an ancient Roman god? Or that in some places, Santa rides a camel? Christmas is a holiday of light and giving, and Santa Claus has become a traditional symbol for the season's deepest meanings. Learn more about:• Santa • the Christ Child • Christmas animals • the Wise Men • Christmas plants • Christmas songs and cards. Across North America, Christmas is an occasion for love and joy and celebration. Discover the traditions and folklore that make this holiday so special.

Does your family have a favorite holiday meal? What are your birthday traditions? Do the older people in your family tell stories about their childhood and what life was like when they were young? All these are parts of family folklore. Tell Me a Story will help you better understand: • what family is.• the ways the generations are linked together.• how families relate to each other.• how families pass along a heritage for the future. We get strength from our family's past—and this sort of folklore also gives us hope for the future.