Fire Drill
by Paul DuBois Jacobs, Jennifer Swender
Macmillan 2010
Great fit for 1st grade
Reading level and content both target K–3rd grade · ages 5–9
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Genre
Themes
- safety
- following rules
- cooperation
- responsibility
- self-control
- school life
- confidence
- community
About this book
Told in upbeat, rhyming lines, this picture book shows a class calmly practicing what to do during a fire drill. Young readers see step-by-step safety routines—lining up, listening, and moving together—set in a familiar school day. It’s reassuring and empowering for preschoolers and early elementary students who may feel nervous about alarms and drills. Bright art and rhythmic text make it an engaging read-aloud for classrooms and families.
Setting: an elementary school during a fire drill
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fire Drill right for my child?
Yes — Fire Drill is a great fit for 1st grade. The reading level is AR 1.6, which is typical for 1st grade. The interest level is rated Lower Grades (K–3), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 5–9 (K–3rd grade). Themes include safety, following rules, cooperation.
How long does it take to read Fire Drill?
At a typical 1st grade reading pace, Fire Drill takes around 4m to finish. The book has 350 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Fire Drill have an AR quiz?
Yes — Fire Drill has an AR quiz available, worth 0.5 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is Fire Drill?
Fire Drill has an AR reading level of 1.6, which places it at a 1st grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Lower Grades (K–3) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.