With it being 20 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks this year, there are several new picture books out. Those in addition to some still in print from the last 20 years provide options for ways to enter into conversations about the events with students who were not yet born to experience that day and the following months to understand the historical impact of those events.
Beyond just sharing the picture books, it also offers an opportunity to start discussions of bias & hate through the anti-Muslim attacks that were perpetrated by those who were not looking out for the best interests of American communities. Why is this a default? Why do some hate others? Who gets blamed? Whose fault is it really? Why can’t they judge people for their character instead of their beliefs or skin or country?
Do not shy away from these conversations, and use them as an opportunity to connect to current Anti-Asian hate during the global pandemic we are living now. When we help kids, even our youngest learners, to start to see patterns of non-white people & citizens being blamed and attacked for things that are not their fault, it is a valuable lesson for helping build community & cultivate better citizens in this increasingly global world.
Available Now:
30,000 STITCHES: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag (Davis & Comport)
FIREBOAT: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey (Kalman)
SEVEN AND A HALF TONS OF STEEL (Nolan & Gonzalez)
14 COWS FOR AMERICA (Naiyomah, Deedy & Gonzalez)
THE SURVIVOR TREE (Aubin & Harrington)
SURVIVOR TREE (Colleen & Becker)
BRANCHES OF HOPE: The 9/11 Survivor Tree (Magee & Wong)
THIS VERY TREE: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth (Rubin)
THE MAN IN THE RED BANDANNA (Crowther Fagan & Crowther)
SAVED BY THE BOATS: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 (Gassman & Moors)
Out of Print:
SEPTEMBER ROSES (Winter)
THE LITTLE CHAPEL THAT STOOD (Curtiss & Golino)
SEPTEMBER 12TH: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right (H Byron Masterson Elementary)
Additional Reading:
AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell (Brown)
I appreciate participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event celebrating picture books and providing many fabulous #ClassroomBookADay choices every year. I inevitably end up with a longer wish list and shopping cart and a maxed out hold list at my library after reading all of the posts. So be sure to go check out other educators’ lists today at Reflect & Refine!
You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists at these links
2020 Ten Picture Books For This Time
2019 Ten Picture Books Honoring Family
2018 My Favorite Female Illustrated Picture Books of 2018
2017 Picture Books I Can’t Wait to Share with My Students as a Librarian
2016 Ten Picture Books to Build Classroom Community
2015 Ten of My New Favorite Picture Books I Am Most Excited to Share
2014 My Ten Favorite Picture Books of 2014 (so far)
2013 Ten Picture Books I Love the Most
Glad to see some titles here that I used in my 6th grade classroom years ago. I love 14 Cows for America and Tugboat. Good to see other titles that are new to me. Off to the library to request them.